Esri ArcGIS Pro Foundation Certification Practice Test

Which three surfaces are developable surfaces for creating map projections?

1. Plane, Sphere, Cone

2. Plane, Ellipse, Cone

3. Cylinder, Sphere, Cone

4. Line, Cube, Cylinder

The correct answer is: Plane, Sphere, Cone

The correct answer identifies the three surfaces that can be used in the development of map projections, which are essential in cartography for translating the three-dimensional surface of the Earth onto a two-dimensional plane. Developable surfaces include: 1. Plane: A flat surface that can be unfolded from the globe. It is typically used for planar projections or azimuthal projections, where the projection is centered on a specific point. 2. Sphere: The basic geometric shape representing the Earth, often used in spherical projections. This surface allows for a more natural representation of the Earth's shape but with some limitations regarding distortion over large areas. 3. Cone: A conical surface that can be used to create conic projections. This surface is particularly useful for mapping regions that extend more in an east-west direction and helps maintain accurate distances and angles for certain areas. The other options include surfaces that do not serve as developable surfaces for projections or include elements that do not relate to standard map projection practices. For example, an ellipse is not typically considered a developable surface, as it cannot be "unwrapped" into a flat representation without significant distortion. Similarly, the line and cube mentioned in another option are not valid developable surfaces in the context of map projections. Understanding these