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/sci/ - Science & Math

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File: 1.01 MB, 2058x1746, Mercator_projection_SW.jpg [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
[ERROR] No.3576665 [Reply] [Original]

>2011
>Mercator still the standard projection being taught in schools

Why is thus ugly and inaccurate map still around?

>> No.3576679

i want to know as well.

>> No.3576713

Bump

>> No.3576715

>projecting a sphere onto a plane

>> No.3576721

Because it's only important to see where other countries are in relation to our own and not a 100% scale representation of everything. Really it could be a cartoon or a series of dots as long as they're in the "right" place.

>> No.3576724

because all maps of the world are shitty. would you rather the stuff around the equator be stretched out? Why? just use a globe for christ's sake. We have googe earth now. Fuck.

>> No.3576732

the uk is out of scale.

>> No.3576741

>>3576732
lolwat

>> No.3576745
File: 20 KB, 293x325, 1312159613874.jpg [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
[ERROR]

>Be 7 years old
>Looking at world map teacher has on wall
>Leave class thinking Greenland is larger than Africa

>> No.3576766

I was literally just thinking of this (as I was deciding whether to watch the West Wing again), I like it but that's only because I've been brought up with it. They really do need to change it though.

>> No.3576829

>>3576741
it too big, the uk is always drawn bigger on maps because that is where time comes from.

>> No.3576854

I'm just going to post this here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8zBC2dvERM

>> No.3576866

White man trying to hold down Blacks as usual.

>> No.3576867

>>3576745
I remember being younger than 7 and understanding that the map was stretched. In fact, I think around 7 I asked HOW they did it.

Mercantor is useful because it shows the geographic relationship between land masses fairly well.

>> No.3576889

>>3576867
I believe it shows E-W and N-S correctly, but distances are wrong.

>> No.3576900

>>3576867
>>3576889
Mercator preserves angles which makes it perfect for navigation by sea.

Peterson preserves area which makes it perfect for not oppressing Indians

>> No.3576915

The only thing right with Mercator is the shapes and for that you generally don't need a world map anyway.

>> No.3576923
File: 49 KB, 479x468, 1312805629813.jpg [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
[ERROR]

>>3576915
Are you sure about that?

>> No.3576930
File: 187 KB, 1255x833, what has science done.jpg [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
[ERROR]

>>3576915

>> No.3576962
File: 153 KB, 960x642, srsly.jpg [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
[ERROR]

Centered on France?
I'm okay with this.

Better than this horrible abortion.

>> No.3576975

>>3576854
holy shit

>> No.3576981

>>3576962
NO. FUCK OFF.

>> No.3576989

looking at maps as a child, I thought alaska was a island off of the coast of texas.

>> No.3576993
File: 940 KB, 2048x1252, Winkel-tripel-projection.jpg [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
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I like the projection Nat Geo adopted.

>> No.3577041

>>3576962
just looking at it hurts my brain

>> No.3577054

Mercator projection has it's uses, but I don't see why multiple projection systems can't be taught in schools. After all, the whole point of geography is graphing the earth (and other planets). Not teaching how to make graphs of your own is kind of messed up. In fact, I'm pretty sure I was taught multiple projections, though not in all grades. It would be nice if they taught a bit more about graphing theory and how to make projections for specific purposes, though.

Also this captcha could reasonably either be said to look like "ctiogr ["say" rotated 180 degrees]" or "ctiogr [lambda symbol]es"

>> No.3577078

>>3576989

yeah. it is.

>> No.3577284

>>3576962
It's interesting that it only looks ugly because of how used we are to today's maps and to the fact that north is always up.

>> No.3577392
File: 104 KB, 960x642, art.jpg [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
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>>3577284
not according to art.

There are 2 standard focal points. above center line. on either side of center line. By having ocean in both of these locations the map is ugly.

>> No.3577418

>>3577392
>Its some ocean, you've probably never heard of it

>> No.3577444

>>3576665
the cool kids don't use projections, but bring up Google Earth on their iPhones

>> No.3577450
File: 39 KB, 640x428, sensible.jpg [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
[ERROR]

>2011

>not using this projection

I seriously hope you guys don't do this.

>> No.3577544

>>3577450

Is this map made by M.C. Escher?

>> No.3577572

>>3577450

But it preserves angles!!!

>> No.3577582

>>3577450
Russia and the US seem much closer when you consider the travel paths of missiles instead of boats.

>> No.3577606

>2011
>Alaska as big as half the continental US

>> No.3577632
File: 274 KB, 889x635, Map-of-human-migrations.jpg [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
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The key isn't to pick one. The correct thing to teach is that there are many, many projections to be used to represent the world. And make sure there is a decent globe there as well.

This Fuller map, for example, neatly shows us human migratory routes in a way that can encourage greater thought on the subject.

The Mercator can show us political divisions at a glance, for world or historical maps it is just as good.

>> No.3577638
File: 49 KB, 288x499, 1280344211701.jpg [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
[ERROR]

Because Greenland is bigger than Africa