Chapter 2

Question 1

Elevation

Answer 1

the height above sea level of a point on the earth’s surface

Question 2

relief

Answer 2

the difference in elevation between the highest parts of an area

Question 3

landform

Answer 3

a feature of topography, such as a hill or valley, formed by the processes that shape the earth’s surface.

Question 4

landform region

Answer 4

a large area of land where the topography is made up mainly of one type of landform. The Great Plaines and Rocky Mountains are examples

Question 5

map

Answer 5

a flat model of all or part of the earth’s surface as seen from above

Question 6

globe

Answer 6

a sphere that represents earth’s entire surface

Question 7

scale

Answer 7

measures distance on a map to a distance on the earth’s surface

Question 8

symbols

Answer 8

shapes and pictures used on a map to stand for features on the earth’s surface

Question 9

key

Answer 9

a list of all the symbols used on the map with an explanation of their meaning

Question 10

What are two of the main lines that make up the grid for measuring the Earth’s surface

Answer 10

the Equator and the Prime Meridian

Question 11

degree

Answer 11

degrees are used to measure the distance around a circle and are the unit of measure that scientists use to locate positions on the earth’s surface

Question 12

Equator

Answer 12

The equator is an imaginary line that circles the earth’s surface. It is halfway between the North and South Poles. It divides the Earth into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. The Equator is the starting point for measuring Latitude.

Question 13

hemisphere

Answer 13

One-half of the sphere that makes up the earth’s surface

Question 14

Prime Meridian

Answer 14

An imaginary line that makes a half circle from the North Pole to the South Pole. It passes through Greenwich, England. Places East of the Prime Meridian are in the Eastern Hemisphere. Places West of the Prime Meridian are in the Western Hemisphere.

Question 15

Latitude

Answer 15

The distance North or South of the equator (counted in degrees). The latitude of the Equator is 0 degrees. Between the Equator and each Pole are 90 evenly spaced, parallel lines called lines of latitude. Each degree of latitude is about 111 kilometers.

Question 16

Longitude

Answer 16

The distance in degrees East or West of the Prime Meridian. There are 360 lines of longitude that run from north to south and they meet at the Poles. A degree in longitude equals about 111 kilometers at the Equator, but at the Poles the distance decreases to zero. The Prime Meridian is the starting line for measuring longitude and is at 0 degrees. The lines of longitude in each hemisphere are numbered up to 180 degrees.

Question 17

Map Projection

Answer 17

a framework of lines that helps in transferring points on Earth’s three-dimensional surface onto a flat map

Question 18

Name 3 common map projections

Answer 18

Mercator Projection
Equal Area Projection
Conic Projection

Question 19

Describe a Mercator Projection map

Answer 19

All the lines of longitude and latitude appear as straight and parallel lines that form a rectangle. The size and shape of landmasses near the Equator are distorted only a little but become more distorted at the Poles. This is because the lines of longitude do not come together at the poles.

Question 20

Describe an Equal Area Projection Map

Answer 20

This map correctly shows the relative sizes of Earth’s landmasses, but it has a distortion at the edges of the map. The shapes of the landmasses at the edges of the map appear stretched and curved.

Question 21

Describe a Conic Projection Map

Answer 21

The lines of longitude appear as straight lines, while the lines of latitude are curved. There is little distortion on the conic maps. They are used to show limited parts of the earth’s surface (like a map of just the USA).

Question 22

Surveying

Answer 22

How mapmakers determine distances and elevations using instruments (tools) and the principles of geometry

Question 23

digitizing

Answer 23

The process by which mapmakers convert the location of map points to numbers

Question 24

Satellite Images

Answer 24

pictures of the earth’s surface taken by satellites in space

Question 25

pixels

Answer 25

thousands of tiny dots that make up a satellite image

Question 26

Global Positioning System

Answer 26

A method of finding longitude, latitude, and elevation of points on Earth’s surface using a network of satellites

Question 27

topographic map

Answer 27

a map showing the surface features of the earth’s surface. They use symbols to portray the land as if you were looking down on it from above. They provide highly accurate information on the elevation, relief and slope of the ground surface

Question 28

contour line

Answer 28

connects points of equal elevation on a topographic map

Question 29

contour interval

Answer 29

the change in elevation from one contour line to another on a topographic map

Question 30

index contours

Answer 30

Usually every 5th contour interval line on a topographic map is an index contour. They are darker and heavier than the contour interval lines. They are labeled with the elevation in round units such as 2,000 ft. above sea level.

Question 31

How are topographic maps used

Answer 31

They are used to design safe highways, to help businesses decide where to build new stores, to help governments select places for new public buildings, and help people plan trips.