Azimuthal Projections, Polar Navigation, and Great-Circle Routes

Cartographic Map Projections and Metric Distortions

Updated 1 month ago · 3 views

Examine planar/azimuthal projections (gnomonic, stereographic, and orthographic) and evaluate their true directions, radial scale distortions, and great-circle straight-line properties.

Premium Lesson

Upgrade to unlock this lesson, practice questions, and your personal tutor.

This lesson is part of a track

Public learning track

Cartographic Map Projections and Metric Distortions

9th Grade · Math · Open Global Math

7 lessons

Goal

Analyze how mapping a 3D spherical surface onto 2D planes induces metric distortions in angles, scale, and surface area across cylindrical, conic, and azimuthal projections.

7 lessons

0 of 7 done

Geometry of the Sphere, Great Circles, and Gaussian CurvatureUp next
Cylindrical Projections and Areal Distortion: The Mercator MapNot started yet
Equal-Area Cylindrical Projections and Angular DistortionNot started yet
Conic Projections and Mid-Latitude Metric AccuracyNot started yet
Azimuthal Projections, Polar Navigation, and Great-Circle RoutesYou are here
Tissot's Indicatrix: Quantifying Local Metric DistortionNot started yet
Evaluating and Selecting Map Projections for Geospatial ProblemsNot started yet

View full track

Learning standards covered

OGM.10.TRG.3Open Global Math Standards 2026™ · 9th Grade

Investigate metric distortions of angles and surface areas produced by cartographic map projections (cylindrical, conic, azimuthal).