What is a projection?
In the modern world, you can often hearthe word "projection", and not only on study or in the scientific field, but even in everyday life. From Latin the word is translated as "throwing forward", however it is clear that this translation is by no means the only one.
Let's see what a projection is.
Different interpretations of the word
Here's how to describe what a projection is, an explanatoryOzhegov's dictionary: "A projection is an image of spatial figures on a plane or transfer to an image screen." The explanatory dictionary of Efremova offers one more meaning: "an enlarged image on the screen of fixed objects by means of a light-optical device".
The term "projection" is used in geometry. For example, the projection of a point on a plane or a straight line is the base of the perpendicular, which is dropped from this point to the same plane or straight line. To find out how to calculate the projection, see How to find the projection.
The projection is also applicable in idealistic philosophy. Here this word means transfer by the subject of any one's own thoughts and feelings to other subjects. For example, a projection can be called when the owner ascribes some own considerations to his pet.
Projection in cartography
The projection can also be found in cartography. With it, you can transfer the image of the earth's surface to the plane.
Cartographic projections are built usingmathematical formulas that determine the relationship between the spherical coordinates of points on the surface of an ellipsoid or ball and the corresponding coordinates of points on the plane of the map. In other words, this projection is perceived as the surface of the globe. With the help of this mathematical method, all the distortions that occur can be taken into account.
Classification of projections
Projections are (in the nature of distortions):
- are conformal;
- are equal;
- arbitrary;
(by type of parallels and meridians of the normal grid):
- cylindrical;
- conical;
- azimuthal;
- pseudoconical;
- pseudocylindrical;
- polyconic.
As you can see, the term "projection" is widely applicable in many areas of our life, such as mathematics, geometry, geography and cinema, and even in science such as philosophy.
