1. What is scale of map?

Scale refers to the relationship between distance on a map and the corresponding distance on the ground. This is also called ratio scale. The first number of the scale is always one. It's unit of measurement,usually a centimeter. The second number is the ground distance. At a scale of 1:1,00,000,one centimeter on the map represents 100000 centimeters (1 km) on the ground.

2. How to determine which scale a map requires?

The scale of the map is determined by the amount of real - world area covered by the map. Medium scale maps (Example :- 1:25000) cover smaller areas in greater detail such as vegetation, land elevation and water bodies whereas smaller - scale maps (Example:-1:100000) cover large areas in less detail, like states in a country .

3. What is a map gird?

A map grid is a pattern of parallel lines intersecting at right angles and forming squares or rectangle on map. The horizontal lines are called Northings and the vertical lines are called Eastings. They are numbered sequentially from the origin at the bottom left the map. They help to pinpoint the exact location of a geographic feature on the map.

4. How the gird reference system is used to find the precise location of a geographic features on a map?

A grid reference locates a unique single point on the map. It is a six-figure reference. The first three figures of the reference denote the Easting and the last three figure denotes the Northing. Grid reference is the intersection point of an Easting and a Northing. Easting tells us how far a position is across the map.

5. How the square reference system is used to find the area at which a geographic features is dispersed on a map?

A square reference locates a unique square region on the map. It locates a particular square rather than a single point. It is a four - figure reference. The first two figures of the reference denote the easting and the last three figure denote the northing. The easting and the northing of a square reference interest at the bottom left hand corner of the square where the geographic feature in question is dispersed.

6. How direction are marked on a map?

Directions can be marked in two ways :

    1) By points of a magnetic compass like South -West:

        There are sixteen compass points commonly used such as North,North -North East,North-East etc.

    2) By compass bearing or angular directions such as 45 degree,135 degree etc.Compass bearings show variation from magnetic north .

7. What is meant by Magnetic North?

Magnetic North is the direction of the earth's magnetic pole. This is the direction to which the north seeking of a magnetic needle points. The magnetic needle should be suspended in such a way that it is free from any local magnetic influence .

8. What are contour lines?

Contour lines connect a series of points of equal elevation. They are used to illustrate relief on a map. For example,numerous contour lines that are close to one another show hilly or mountainous terrain: When far apart, they indicate a gentler slope.

9. What is meant by gradient of a slope?

Gradient of a slope is its steepness. A rough idea on gradient could be obtained by looking at the contour pattern. If the contour lines are close together, the slope is steep. If they are far apart, the land is quite flat.

10. What are the measurements requires to measure gradient accurately?

To measure gradient accurately , we required two measures-vertical difference between two points and horizontal distance between two places. The vertical distance could be worked out using the contour lines. The horizontal distance might not always be straight lines as in the case of a meandering stream.