Table of Contents
What determines the scale of a map?
Map scale refers to the relationship (or ratio) between distance on a map and the corresponding distance on the ground. For example, on a 1:100000 scale map, 1cm on the map equals 1km on the ground. For example, a 1:100000 scale map is considered a larger scale than a 1:250000 scale map.
What determines a map maker’s choice of scale?
The size of the area covered helps determine the scale of a map. A map that shows an area in great detail, such as a street map of a neighborhood, is called a large-scale map because objects on the map are relatively large.
When to use scale indicators on a map?
All map scale indicators can be used 1) to determine the extent to which a geographic region has been reduced from its actual size and 2) to help the map reader determine distance on the map. However, some are better for understanding the amount of reduction and others are better for determining distances.
Which is larger a map scale or a reference number?
Map scale is often confused or interpreted incorrectly, perhaps because the smaller the map scale, the larger the reference number and vice versa. For example, a 1:100000 scale map is considered a larger scale than a 1:250000 scale map.
How are scale bars used in a map?
All map scale indicators can be used 1) to determine the extent to which a geographic region has been reduced from its actual size and 2) to help the map reader determine distance on the map. However, some are better for understanding the amount of reduction and others are better for determining distances. Let’s start with scale bars.
Which is the ratio in a scale map?
The second is the corresponding place that the map actually portrays. The ratio will look something like this: 1:18,000. The way you read this is 1 to 18,000. You can think of it as saying one of something on the map is equal to 18,000 of that exact same thing in the real location.