Which map projection is produced by projecting meridians and parallels onto a cone tangent to the sphere and then developing the cone into a plane?

• A. Chorographic map
• B. Cassini map projection
• C. Cylindrical map projection
• D. Conic map projection

Answer: (D)

Conic projection is formed by projecting points on the Earth onto a cone that touches the globe along a parallel, then developing that cone onto a plane. This cone-tangent construction is what defines a conic projection, and when you unfold the cone, meridians typically appear as straight lines while parallels appear as circular arcs. Distortion is minimized near the tangent parallel (the standard parallel). This is distinct from cylindrical projections, which use a cylinder rather than a cone, and from the other named projections which are defined by different methods.