CONS 127 EXAM QUESTIONS WITH
100% CORRECT ANSWERS | LATEST
VERSION 2025/2026.
What is the significance of the 1482 Ptolemy map? - ANS It was the first map to use grid lines
(a coordinate system using latitude and longitude to define positions)
What is latitude? - ANS Angle that describes the north-south position.
Parallel - ANS Circle connecting all locations with a given latitude
Pole - ANS Points where the Earth's axis of rotation meets its surface
There are North, South poles
Equator - ANS Intersection of the Earth's surface with the plane perpendicular to the axis of
rotation and midway between the poles. The equator is the biggest parallel
Arctic Circle - ANS Southernmost latitude in the Northern Hemisphere where the Sun can
remain continuously above or below the horizon for 24h.
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
,Antarctic Circle - ANS Northernmost latitude in the Southern Hemisphere where the sun can
remain continuously above or below the horizon for 24h.
Tropic of Cancer + How does it change seasons depending on where Earth is tilted + Value -
ANS Northernmost circle of latitude where the Sun can be directly overhead
When the top of the Earth is tilted towards the sun, it is summer in the northern hemisphere.
Since the southern hemisphere is tilted away from the sun, it's winter there
Tropic of Capricorn + Value - ANS Southernmost circle of latitude where the Sun can be
directly overhead
66.5S
Longitude - ANS Angle that describes the east-west position, no value for Longitude
Meridian - ANS Half of an imaginary great circle, terminating at the North Pole and the South
Poles, connecting points of equal longitude
Prime Meridian - ANS Origin of the measures of Longitude (zero degrees of longitude)
What can be said about the four models of the Earth? Are they correct? How do they differ? -
ANS All are wrong models of the Earth but have varying degrees of correctness and
incorrectness. Varying in complexity, accuracy and applications
Geoid model of the Earth - ANS - Most accurate model of the Earth
- Physical approximation of the figure of the Earth
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
,- Shape of the surface of calmed oceans, in the absence of other influences such as winds and
tides
- Computed using complex physical models and gravity readings of Earth's surface
- Used to measure surface elevations with a high degree of accuracy
Ellipsoid model of the Earth - ANS - Mathematical approximation of the shape of the Earth
- The Earth is flattened at the poles and bulges at the equator due to its revolution; ellipsoid
geodesy accounts for this. It is suitable for direct mathematical computations
- Defined by two numbers: semi-major and semi-minor axis
-AX=B
Sphere model of the Earth - ANS - The least accurate model of the Earth
- The Earth's radius is constant
- a=b
How is the Earth projected into maps? - ANS Or centuries, the most vexing dilemma for
cartog. Has been how to transfer the 3D Globe onto a 2D Page
A map projection is a set of math. formulas and equations that enables Earth's curved surface
to be shown on a flat map
Only a globe can be accurately represent all of the Earth's metric properties (area, shape,
distance and direction)
3 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
, Projected on a flat surface, only some of these properties can be accurately represented: every
map has some sort of distortion
What 3 surfaces were suitable for projecting an image of the Earth without significant distortion
- ANS Cylindrical
The Earth is projected on a cylinder.
Whole-world maps are rectangular
Distortion on the poles
Conic Projections
The Earth is projected on a cone
Good for representing parts of the Earth
Planar projections
The Earth is projected on a plane
Lots of distortion towards the edges
Cylindrical - Conformal Projections - ANS Angles between positions are preserved
Convenient for sea navigation
Distortion of countries and continents/areas
Example: Mercator
Conic - Equivalent / Equal Area Projections - ANS The area of countries/continents is
preserved
Enables direct surface comparisons within the map
The shape of countries/continents is distorted
Example: Mollweide, Gall-Peters
4 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
100% CORRECT ANSWERS | LATEST
VERSION 2025/2026.
What is the significance of the 1482 Ptolemy map? - ANS It was the first map to use grid lines
(a coordinate system using latitude and longitude to define positions)
What is latitude? - ANS Angle that describes the north-south position.
Parallel - ANS Circle connecting all locations with a given latitude
Pole - ANS Points where the Earth's axis of rotation meets its surface
There are North, South poles
Equator - ANS Intersection of the Earth's surface with the plane perpendicular to the axis of
rotation and midway between the poles. The equator is the biggest parallel
Arctic Circle - ANS Southernmost latitude in the Northern Hemisphere where the Sun can
remain continuously above or below the horizon for 24h.
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
,Antarctic Circle - ANS Northernmost latitude in the Southern Hemisphere where the sun can
remain continuously above or below the horizon for 24h.
Tropic of Cancer + How does it change seasons depending on where Earth is tilted + Value -
ANS Northernmost circle of latitude where the Sun can be directly overhead
When the top of the Earth is tilted towards the sun, it is summer in the northern hemisphere.
Since the southern hemisphere is tilted away from the sun, it's winter there
Tropic of Capricorn + Value - ANS Southernmost circle of latitude where the Sun can be
directly overhead
66.5S
Longitude - ANS Angle that describes the east-west position, no value for Longitude
Meridian - ANS Half of an imaginary great circle, terminating at the North Pole and the South
Poles, connecting points of equal longitude
Prime Meridian - ANS Origin of the measures of Longitude (zero degrees of longitude)
What can be said about the four models of the Earth? Are they correct? How do they differ? -
ANS All are wrong models of the Earth but have varying degrees of correctness and
incorrectness. Varying in complexity, accuracy and applications
Geoid model of the Earth - ANS - Most accurate model of the Earth
- Physical approximation of the figure of the Earth
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
,- Shape of the surface of calmed oceans, in the absence of other influences such as winds and
tides
- Computed using complex physical models and gravity readings of Earth's surface
- Used to measure surface elevations with a high degree of accuracy
Ellipsoid model of the Earth - ANS - Mathematical approximation of the shape of the Earth
- The Earth is flattened at the poles and bulges at the equator due to its revolution; ellipsoid
geodesy accounts for this. It is suitable for direct mathematical computations
- Defined by two numbers: semi-major and semi-minor axis
-AX=B
Sphere model of the Earth - ANS - The least accurate model of the Earth
- The Earth's radius is constant
- a=b
How is the Earth projected into maps? - ANS Or centuries, the most vexing dilemma for
cartog. Has been how to transfer the 3D Globe onto a 2D Page
A map projection is a set of math. formulas and equations that enables Earth's curved surface
to be shown on a flat map
Only a globe can be accurately represent all of the Earth's metric properties (area, shape,
distance and direction)
3 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
, Projected on a flat surface, only some of these properties can be accurately represented: every
map has some sort of distortion
What 3 surfaces were suitable for projecting an image of the Earth without significant distortion
- ANS Cylindrical
The Earth is projected on a cylinder.
Whole-world maps are rectangular
Distortion on the poles
Conic Projections
The Earth is projected on a cone
Good for representing parts of the Earth
Planar projections
The Earth is projected on a plane
Lots of distortion towards the edges
Cylindrical - Conformal Projections - ANS Angles between positions are preserved
Convenient for sea navigation
Distortion of countries and continents/areas
Example: Mercator
Conic - Equivalent / Equal Area Projections - ANS The area of countries/continents is
preserved
Enables direct surface comparisons within the map
The shape of countries/continents is distorted
Example: Mollweide, Gall-Peters
4 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
