Which map projection represents the earth onto a cylinder?

The Mercator projection correctly represents the earth onto a cylinder, which is why it is the right answer. This projection was developed by Gerardus Mercator in 1569 and is widely known for its ability to preserve angles, making it useful for marine navigation. The characteristic feature of the Mercator projection is that it displays lines of latitude and longitude as straight, right-angle intersections, creating a rectangular grid.

When the Earth's surface is projected onto a cylinder, it distorts the size of landmasses, particularly near the poles, but maintains accurate shapes and angles, allowing for easier navigation and map reading. This property of preserving angles makes it an invaluable tool for maritime activities, despite the distortion of area.

Other map projections mentioned have different characteristics. The Lambert projection, for instance, is typically used for aeronautical charts and maintains conformality while depicting areas in a different form. Azimuthal projections focus on providing a view of the earth from a specific point, particularly useful for polar regions. Lastly, the orthographic projection presents a three-dimensional view of the earth as it would appear from space, without the cylindrical approach used in the Mercator projection.