Final answer:
To determine the distance from Ohio to Florida, the spherical model of the Earth is used. The Mercator projection model, while useful for navigation due to its angle preservation, is not as suitable for measuring distances because it introduces scale distortion. Modern GPS technology also relies on the spherical Earth model for accurate distance measurements.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine the distance from Ohio to Florida, the spherical model of the Earth is typically used. This model considers the Earth as a three-dimensional shape, which is essential for calculating distances over its surface accurately. Despite the Earth being slightly oval due to its equatorial bulge, for most practical purposes, particularly over the relatively short distances such as state-to-state in the United States, the spherical assumption holds well. The spherical model allows for understanding the complexities of Earth's shape when measuring distances that follow the curvature of the planet, such as the distances between two points at different latitudes or on different continents.
In contrast, the Mercator projection model is a type of map often used in navigation and cartography. It depicts the globe on a two-dimensional flat surface, which causes distortions, especially near the poles. Although the Mercator projection is useful for navigation due to the fact that it preserves angles and direction, it is not ideal for measuring distances because of its scale distortion.
For travels from Ohio to Florida, which are primarily along the same longitudinal area, the spherical model is more appropriate. Additionally, modern technology like GPS also relies on a spherical representation of the Earth to provide accurate travel distances and directions.