Map Skills Flashcards
What is a map?
A representation of a part of the earth or whole of the earth on a flat surface drawn to scale
What is a plan?
It is a small map of a place drawn to show specific information - usually drawn to scale and shows many details
What are the different types of maps? And briefly explain them.
- Atlas Maps - small maps of large area’s found in an atlas
- Topographical Maps - drawn by cartographers they show selected human and physical features
- Sketch Maps - simple maps drawn to show specific information - not drawn to scale
What is a picture?
A picture is an image of an object in the form of a photograph, drawing or painting. Pictures can be of any size, they may be smaller or bigger than the object they represent.
What should a good sketch map have?
- A title
- Be enclosed in a frame
- Show the compass direction
- Have a Key
- Be accurate and neat
Uses of Maps
- Used by economists who plan economic activity
- Help calculate distances between places
- Show locations and distances of different places on earth
- Show boundaries, capitals…etc
- Meteorologists use them to should weather conditions and climate regions
- Help identify physical features like rivers, mountains, lakes…etc
- Used by the military and airforce
- Help navigation for pilots and captains
- Show population, distribution and densities
Name all the continents
Africa, Asia, Antartica, Europe, North America, South America, Australia
What is a scale?
A scale is a measure that shows the relationship between distances on the map and those on the actual ground
What are the 3 types of scales and describe them
- Statement Scale - stated in words
- Representative Fraction - shown as a ratio/fraction
- Linear Scale - indicated by a sub-divided line with units
Uses of Scales
- Scales are used for measurements of distances
2. Scales are used for calculation of regular and irregular areas
1km = x cm?
1 km = 100,000 cm
1km = x meters
1km = 1000 meters
1meter = x cm
1 meter = 100 cms
Name the types of Map Symbols (5)
- Small Drawings
- Lines
- Colors
- Letters
- Abbreviations
What are line symbols used for in maps?
They are used to show things such as roads, railways, footpaths, boundaries..etc
What are colors used for in maps?
They are used to show large areas of a certain biome
What are letters used for in maps?
Capital letters are used as symbols to represent certain buildings or activities on the ground - usually abbreviated
What are small drawings used for in maps?
They look like the building in real life and represent where it is on the map
What is a compass
A compass is an instrument which shows direction in which a place lies, so that it can be located.
What are the four cardinal points on a compass? (4) - but can you remember all 16?
North, East, South, West
What are the 3 types of north and briefly describe them?
- Grid North - shows the north that a grid on the map shows
- True North - actual north shown on a compass
- Magnetic North - shows variation between true north and magnetic pull of the poles
What is a bearing?
This is another way of giving direction but is given in degrees by measuring angles
What are eastings?
These are lines that run from North to South on a grid. They are known as eastings because their value increases eastwards.
What are northings?
These are lines that run from East to West. They are known as northings because their value increases northwards
When writing grid references, you need to write the ____________ first.
Eastings
What are grid references?
There are used to give the actual locations of places on a map
What is the difference between using a 4 figure grid references and a 6 figure one?
4 figure -> for when the given area occupies a whole square
6 figure -> if it just a point on the map
How is height shown on a map? Briefly explain each method.
- Spot Heights - shows the exact height of a point using a black dot or triangulation pillar
- Layer colouring - using colours and a key to show different areas of different heights
- Contours - shown by lines drawn on a map joining places of the same height with the number written in the middle somewhere
