* Projection: World maps are flat representations of a spherical Earth. The process of projecting the sphere onto a flat surface inevitably distorts shapes and distances, especially near the poles.
* Satellite motion: Satellites orbit the Earth in elliptical paths, but from a ground perspective, their paths appear curved due to Earth's rotation and the satellite's altitude.
* Ground tracks: The path a satellite appears to trace on the Earth's surface is called its ground track. This track can appear wavy due to the combined effects of Earth's rotation and the satellite's orbital inclination (the angle of its orbit relative to the equator).
A Simple Analogy:
Imagine drawing a straight line on a balloon. If you then inflate the balloon, the line will appear curved. Similarly, the straight path of a satellite in space appears curved when projected onto a flat map.
Important Note: The shape of a satellite's orbit is determined by its orbital parameters, not by any inherent wavy shape of the orbit itself. The apparent wavy shape is an artifact of projection and perspective.
