Page 118 - SST Class 06

F ind Outind Out distance; it always uses 1 as the numerator; for
Where is your state on a map?
COMPONENTS OF A MAP
In order to make a map useful, it is necessary to
have three essential components. These are
distance, directions and symbols.
Info Bits
Info Bits
A legend is given in one side or corner of a map, it
includes different details such as symbols, scale,
subject etc.
Distance
It is not possible to make a map as large as the actual
area may be. A map is a depiction of a large area in a
limited space. So, a map is drawn to reduced scales.
However, reduced scales are so planned that the
actual area can be depicted quite accurately. The
scale is a ratio between the actual distance on the
ground and the distance shown on the map.
For example, if the distance between your school
and your house is 6 km, then this distance can be
shown by 6 inches on a map. It simply means that
1 inch on the map represents 1 km on the ground.
Depending on the size of a map and the actual
ground area, different ratios can be used in a map.
So, 1 cm can be used to show 1 km, 10 km or 100
km, or even larger ground area.
A scale is shown on a map. It can be given in the
bottom of a map.
Generally three types of scales are used to show
distance :
1. Linear Scale : In this a line is used to show
distance.
5 4 3 2 1 0 5 10 15 20 25 km
Linear scale
2. Statement : A statement can be used to show
distance; for example :
1 cm = 10 km
3. Representative Fraction (R.F.) : This shows the
ratio between the map distance and the ground
Contemporary Social Science-6
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example :
1 or 1/1,00,000.
1,00,000
It means that 1 is equal to the ground distance in the
same units of measurement; for example, 1 cm on
the map is equal to 1,00,000 cm on the ground.
Scales can be classified as small scale or large
scale. A small scale uses a small measurement for
a large ground area, for example, 1 cm = 100 km
or 1000 km; while a large scale uses a large scale
for a small ground area, for example, 1 cm = 100
m or 10 m. A small scale is used in a map showing
a very large area, while a large scale is used in a
map of a small area as that of a town or village.
The map of a building can show 1 inch = 1 m.
Quiz Time
Fill in the blanks :
1. The Earth is ____________ while a map is
____________ .
2. A map is a ____________ of a large area in a
limited ____________ .
3. A small scale uses a small ____________ for a
large ground area.
4. A physical map shows the ____________
features of the ____________ .
5. The earliest map is believed to have been made
is ____________ BC.
Directions
If we do not know which direction depicts what
on a map, we cannot ascertain the actual position
of that place. For this purpose, specific directions
are used. Generally, on a map :
q The north direction is to the top.
q The south direction is to the bottom.
q The east direction is to the right.
q The west direction is to the left.
A map can show directions in different ways, as
shown here :
A compass is the best means to ascertain
directions. Its red needle always points to the
north direction.