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Geographical Skills

Distance, area, direction and scale

  • 3 things to know
  • All three components

Overview

Bearing that corresponds to due west and large-scale map.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Your recallNot started
Key term

How is straight-line distance measured on a map?

Key term

How is the length of a winding feature such as a river measured?

Key term

What does a scale of 1:25 000 mean?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    How is straight-line distance measured on a map?

    Model answer

    The distance between two points is measured with a ruler and converted using the map scale. A 6 cm gap on a 1:25 000 map is 1.5 km on the ground.

  2. 2

    How is the length of a winding feature such as a river measured?

    Model answer

    A piece of string or a series of short straight segments is laid along the feature. The total length is then converted using the scale.

  3. 3

    What does a scale of 1:25 000 mean?

    Model answer

    One unit on the map represents 25 000 of the same units on the ground. One centimetre therefore represents 250 metres.

  4. 4

    What does a scale of 1:50 000 mean?

    Model answer

    One unit on the map represents 50 000 on the ground. One centimetre therefore represents 500 metres.

  5. 5

    Which Ordnance Survey scale is better for detailed fieldwork, and why?

    Model answer

    The 1:25 000 series is better for fieldwork because it shows field boundaries and footpaths. The larger scale gives more detail over a smaller area.

  6. 6

    Convert 8 cm on a 1:50 000 map into a ground distance.

    Model answer

    Each centimetre is 500 metres, so 8 cm is 4000 metres. The ground distance is 4 km.

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One therefore represents 250 metres.
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