h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hi Awu...

There was going to be an entry on map projections in my uni project, but...

Yes, one must take care when using a map projection that distorts in some directions. However, I really think that's going to muddy the issue if I mention it. It really belongs in an entry on map projections or how to use a map.

There are other map projections which preserve linear distances in only certain directions and others that preserve linear distances in all directions.

This is one reason why maps have graticules.

As far as this entry is concerned, scale is always a ratio. It's not discussing things like the Beaufort or Richter Magnitude Scales. In the former, a moderate breeze (4) is not twice as strong as a light breeze (2), while the latter is logarithmic so a 4.0 R earthquake is significantly stronger than a 2.0 R earthquake.

I'll look into the "1 inch to the mile" stuff mentioned in post #7.

Just a quick comment that I'm going to try to add a very short blurb about "common map scales".

And the very short blurb has been added.

"A map with a scale of 1:10 000 000 would be a small scale map" I still disagree with this introduction of absolutes regarding small and large scale maps. Small and large are relative, as you say in the section before on 'large scale'. 1:10 000 000 would be an insanely large scale map of the solar system. Yes, I know this borders on silly, but if you're going to assign absolutes, you have to mention scope. Repeating my earlier point; a small scale map of your house is a ridiculously large scale map of England.

Yes, scale is subjective and it depends on application.

However, you pulled one phrase out of the article without looking at it in context. In the context of this entry, and particularly that section, I think that it is fine. It is in a section comparing two different scales and indicating one's small and the other's large.

I think I'm going to leave it as is. Unless there are other comments, I think this is ready to go.

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