What term refers to a sphere that represents Earth's entire surface?

• A. Globe
• B. Map
• C. Projection
• D. Satellite

Answer: (A)

A globe is a three-dimensional sphere that represents Earth's entire surface. Because it mirrors the planet’s shape, it avoids the distortions that occur when flattening Earth onto a map, and it shows continents, oceans, and other features in their true spatial relationships on a globe. A map, by contrast, is a flat representation of part of Earth’s surface, which requires projections that distort area, shape, or distance. A projection is the method used to transfer the curved surface onto a flat plane, inevitably introducing some distortion. A satellite is a man-made object that orbits Earth and collects data or images, not a representation of Earth's surface itself.