CONIC PROJECTION Meaning and
Definition
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A conic projection is a method used in cartography to portray a three-dimensional surface, typically the Earth, onto a two-dimensional map. This type of projection involves placing a cone over the globe and projecting the surface onto the cone.
In a conic projection, the apex of the cone is positioned directly over a specific point on the Earth's surface, often at a middle latitude. The cone is then unrolled and flattened onto a flat surface, resulting in a conical map projection.
The main characteristic of a conic projection is that it maintains accurate distances and shapes along the parallels of latitude, which are represented by concentric circles on the map. However, distortions occur as the cone expands towards the poles, which can cause exaggeration of distances and shapes as one moves away from the standard parallel chosen for the projection.
Conic projections are particularly useful for depicting regions that extend primarily in an east-west direction, such as middle latitude countries or states. They are often employed for small-scale maps, especially those focused on mid-latitude regions. Conic projections are less suitable for representing large areas or entire continents, as they tend to distort shape and scale noticeably towards the poles.
In conclusion, a conic projection is a map projection technique that utilizes a cone to project a three-dimensional Earth surface onto a two-dimensional map, with distortions occurring as one moves away from the standard parallel.
Common Misspellings for CONIC PROJECTION
- xonic projection
- vonic projection
- fonic projection
- donic projection
- cinic projection
- cknic projection
- clnic projection
- cpnic projection
- c0nic projection
- c9nic projection
- cobic projection
- comic projection
- cojic projection
- cohic projection
- conuc projection
- conjc projection
- conkc projection
- conoc projection
- con9c projection
Etymology of CONIC PROJECTION
The word "conic" in "conic projection" refers to the mathematical shape known as a cone. The etymology of the word "conic" can be traced back to the Latin word "conus", which means "cone". In mathematics, a conic is a curve formed by the intersection of a plane with a right circular cone.
In the context of cartography and map projections, a conic projection is a method of representing the curved surface of the Earth on a flat map using a cone-shaped imaginary surface that is wrapped around the globe. This projection preserves the shape and areas of regions within a particular latitude range, but introduces distortion as one moves away from that range.
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