Alert: The Maps Thread

Sometimes when I wanted to confuse my students I would ask them if the universe really does have an "up" and "down" and, if not, then couldn't north really be down and not up? In other words, maybe are maps are all upside down.

 

I kind of assumed that since there’s a magnetic north then that’s how north became the “up” direction.

 

Now I'm confused!

 

If they Google'd it they could say that the universe is the same in every direction on a large scale, and there is no single edge or top. We can define an "up" and "down" within a specific system, like Earth's solar system, based on its axis of rotation. But this is a matter of convenience, not an objective property of the cosmos.

 

Before the compass there was Polaris, so there was a "north" before even the concept of a globe or a pole.

 

I mean if you count up and down quarks it does!

 

Since this is the maps thread ...

 

In my classroom I always had a Pacific-centered map. The Atlantic-centered maps divide Pacific Island countries and regions on "different sides" of the world; for example, Kiribati will be on both the far left of the map and the far right of the map, with the Polynesian islands split to the two sides as well. Pacific-centered maps cause less "disruption" that way.

 

I knew the earth was flat! Can I be a pro athlete now?

 

In ancient China, south was the primary direction. They invented a cart which would always point south no matter how it was steered.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South-pointing_chariot

 

I have an app on my phone that points to the local Chinese restaurant

 

I applaud this map, yet it seems like it is still using a mercator-style projection, enlarging the north and shrinking the south.

Maybe this one, which I think is that standard map used in Australia, would help?

 

What about Down Under is equivocal?

 

If there's no DownUnda, were the mens work all for naught?

And don't @ me!

 

Just turn your monitor upside down.

 

Don't be ridiculous. He should do a handstand.

 

I turned my monitor upside down and did a handstand....now what!

 

The only fitting thing I can think off is a pineapple cake!

 

With 2 eggs, over-easy

 

Enough with the flip remarks!!!