Question

How are maps more helpful than globes?

Answer 1

Hint: Both globe and map are miniaturized forms of the Earth that are used to study and understand the geography and other aspects of the planet, both of them make it easier and more convenient to study the Earth. However, maps have added benefits to them.

Complete answer: There are a few major reasons why maps are a better tool to study Earth, than globes.
The reasons are explained below.
a. A map is a graphical representation of the Earth on a flat surface like paper, whereas the globe is a spherical structure shaped like the Earth. This makes a map more useful as the researchers can study the minutest details of the geographical features.
b. A map is a two-dimensional figure made on paper whereas a globe is a three-dimensional structure, this makes it easier to draw a map and the features which need to be studied, it gives a more precise representation of the Earth and is also cheaper and easier to create.
c. The map is mostly drawn using lines whereas a globe represents the longitudes and latitudes using semi-circular and circular lines, so it is easier to understand the distances between the longitudes and latitudes on paper than on a 3D structure.
d. In a map, only one part of the Earth is represented, and this helps in studying all the features of a city/state/country. Multiple maps can be made to study different features like topography, population, soils etc.
e. In a map, more information can be shown regarding the features of the Earth, for example, in a physical map, political map, topographic maps, thematic maps and so on whereas in a globe one cannot study these different details.

Note: Map is a diagrammatic representation of the entire area of the earth or a part, drawn on a flat surface based on different types of scales. A map scale helps in identifying the distance between two points on Earth, it is the most important characteristic of a map and makes it better than the globe for the study of geography.