Which projection shows the map of the globe on a flat surface?

• A. Mercator projection
• B. Gnomonic projection
• C. Peters projection
• D. Robinson projection

Answer: (A)

Mapping a spherical surface onto a flat sheet requires a projection method, and the Mercator projection does this by wrapping the Earth onto a cylinder and then unrolling it into a flat map. This cylinder-based approach makes it straightforward to represent the whole world on one flat surface, with latitude and longitude forming a rectangular grid. It also preserves angles locally, so compass bearings are represented as straight lines on the map, which is why it’s so widely used for navigation. Distortion grows as you move toward the poles, which is a trade-off of this method, but the basic idea—the globe being laid onto a flat surface via a cylindrical projection—fits the description in the question. The other projections have different goals: some focus on showing only part of the sphere well (gnomonic shows great-circle paths but can’t depict the entire globe on one plane), some preserve area at the expense of shape, and some aim for overall balance rather than a direct cylinder-to-flat mapping.