CYLINDRICAL PROJECTION Meaning and
Definition
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A cylindrical projection is a type of map projection that represents the three-dimensional surface of the Earth onto a two-dimensional cylinder. The cylinder is then unrolled to form a flat map. This projection preserves the shape, direction, and scale of small areas on the Earth's surface, but distorts them as they move away from the equator.
In a cylindrical projection, the meridians (lines of longitude) are represented as equally spaced vertical lines that cross the equator at right angles. The parallels (lines of latitude) are represented as equally spaced horizontal lines that are parallel to the equator. This creates a rectangular map where distances between the meridians and parallels remain constant.
Cylindrical projections are commonly used for world maps or maps that cover large areas, as they provide a straightforward representation of the Earth's surface. They are particularly useful for navigational purposes, as they allow for easy determination of distances and directions. However, the distortion becomes more pronounced as one moves further away from the equator, resulting in significant shape and size distortions at higher latitudes.
Examples of cylindrical projections include the Mercator projection, which became popular for its ability to represent rhumb lines (lines of constant bearing) as straight lines, and the Miller projection, which is a compromise projection that reduces the distortion at high latitudes. Various other cylindrical projections exist, each with its own specific properties and applications.
Common Misspellings for CYLINDRICAL PROJECTION
- xylindrical projection
- vylindrical projection
- fylindrical projection
- dylindrical projection
- ctlindrical projection
- cglindrical projection
- chlindrical projection
- culindrical projection
- c7lindrical projection
- c6lindrical projection
- cykindrical projection
- cypindrical projection
- cyoindrical projection
- cylundrical projection
- cyljndrical projection
- cylkndrical projection
- cylondrical projection
- cyl9ndrical projection
- cyl8ndrical projection
- cylibdrical projection
Etymology of CYLINDRICAL PROJECTION
The word "cylindrical" comes from the Latin word "cylindrus", which in turn originated from the Greek word "kylindros", meaning "roller" or "cylinder". It refers to a solid shape with straight parallel sides and a circular or oval cross-section.
The word "projection" is derived from the Latin word "projectio", which means "a throwing forward" or "a protrusion". It comes from the verb "proicere", which combines "pro" (meaning "forward") and "iacere" (meaning "to throw"), suggesting the act of throwing something forward or outward.
Therefore, the term "cylindrical projection" combines "cylindrical" to describe the shape of the projection surface and "projection" to describe the process of representing the three-dimensional Earth's surface onto a two-dimensional map or surface.
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