Social Science [3 Mark Questions]

As it is not possible to draw on a map the actual shape and size of different features (e.g., buildings, roads, bridges), they are shown by using certain standard letters, shades, colours, pictures and lines. These symbols give a lot of information in a little space. Using these symbols, maps can be drawn easily. The use of symbols makes maps simple to read.

Map	Plan
A map is a representation or a drawing of the Earth’s surface or a part of it drawn on a flat surface according to a scale.	A plan is a drawing of a small area on a large scale.
It can be used for representing large areas like continents or countries (large scale maps), and also for representing a small area like a village or a town (small scale maps).	It is used for representing those things that cannot be represented in a map. For example, the length and the breadth of a room cannot be shown in a map. For this purpose, a plan is used.

A globe is useful when we want to study the Earth as a whole. But, when we want to study only a part of the Earth, it is of little help. For this purpose, we use maps. A map can represent the entire Earth’s surface or a part of it.

The main points of differences among a map, a plan and a sketch are the following:

• A map shows a large area on a small scale, the plan shows a small area on a large scale, a sketch is not drawn to scale.
• A map shows only important features of a large area, a plan shows detailed features of a small area. A sketch shows only landmarks which are usefulas guides.
• Maps, plans and sketches each uses a different method of drawing. Maps project curved features of the Earth on a flat surface to a scale accordingto some well-defined methods of projection. Plans are generally like an engineering drawing. The sketch needs no particular skill or method to draw.

A scale is ratio between the distance on the map and the actual distance on the ground.It is of three types:

1. Statement of a scale.
2. Representative Fractions (RF).
3. Graphical scale.

Maps not only help us to locate a place but also help us to find distance between two places in the following ways:

1. Find the scale for the map you are going to use. It might be ruler looking bar scale or a written scale in words or numbers.
2. Use a ruler to measure the distance between the two places. If the line is quite curved, use a string to determine the distance and then measure the string.
3. If the scale is a word statement, i.e., 'One centimeter equals one kilometer’ then determine the distance.

Directions are important on a map: The letter 'N' or an arrow (↑) is the north direction. Then in relation to that the other direction like south, east and west can be found out. Soone can know the direction of one place with respect to another on a map. Importance of scales in maps?Maps are a reduced representation of the earth or its parts on a flat surface. This reduction in length and size on a map is done in a fixed ratio. For example, we may take a scale of 1 centimetre to represent 1 Kilometre on the map. This scale is maintained throughout the map.

A city or a town has many buildings and structures which cannot be depicted in detail in maps or sketches. To show a complete layout inside a building we make a drawing called a plan. These are normally made by the architects who design houses and buildings. When a house is constructed or a building is planned, architects first make detailed plans or layouts to show how they are going to be constructed. These depict the actual sizes of rooms, the location of staircases, doors and windows and so on.

Conventional signs and symbols are important part of a map because a map must be clear and easy to read, as every map shows and records a variety of information. As all information’s in one map may crowd a map, so different signs and symbols are used to save space and to keep map look cleaner. These signs and symbols can be in the form of small drawing, lines, letters, short words or coloured areas. These are explained through a 'Key'.

The need to make maps to be able to estimate distances on maps because all maps show the earth or regions within it as a much smaller size than their real size. Maps present 'a bird's eye view' of an area and drawn to scale. So maps are a true graphical representation of the whole or part of the earth drawn on a flat surface.

It is the third important component of a map. The maps have to depict a number of features, e.g. buildings, trees, villages etc. It becomes difficult to draw them because of their shape and size. Thus symbols are used to depict various physical features. With the use of these symbols, maps can be drawn easily and are simple to read. There is an international agreement regarding the use of these symbols.

The North Pole (true north) is a geographic pole with a stationary location at 90- degrees north. This geographic North Pole is the fixed northernmost point on earth from which all points lie south.
The Magnetic North Pole is not based on true north, but on the magnetosphere of the planet. The Magnetic North Pole lies hundreds of miles away from the true north, with its exact position constantly shifting.

The scale is the relation between distance on the map and the corresponding distance on the ground, e.g. if the distance on the map and grounds of same two points is 1 cm and 1km receptively, the scale of the map will be 1cm to 1km, R.F= (1:1000000). Scale is very important in any map. If you know the scale, you will be able to calculate the distance between any two places on a map.

Every map consists of a vertical line (arrow) at the upper right hand corner of the map where ‘N’ is marked to indicate the north. This line is called the North Line. There are four cardinal or main directions. These are known as the cardinal points. The directions are North (N), South (S), East (E) and West (W). Amidst there are four intermediate directions. They are North-East (NE), South-East (SE), North-West (NW) and South-West (SW). If the map does not depict the north line then the top of the map is considered as north.

The compass is very stable in areas close to the equator, which is far from "Magnetic North”. At some point close to the Magnetic Pole, the compass will not indicate any particular direction but will begin to drift in a non direction indicating manner. Also, the needle starts to point up or down when getting closer to the poles, due to the so-called magnetic inclination. Cheap compasses with bad bearings may get stuck due to this; therefore, indicate a wrong direction.

Globes are preferred more useful than maps because of the reasons given below:

1. It shows the poles, latitudes, longitudes, oceans and continents in their correct shape.
2. There are globes which show various relief features like mountains, plateaus and plains.
3. It also shows distance between the two adjoining meridians which decreases as one goes away from the equator towards the poles.

1. Globes give a good, visual indication of the earth's surface.
2. The shape of the continents and their relative positions are correct.
3. Gives a true representation; whatever position it is viewed from.
4. The shape and size of the various continents is not distorted as compared to representing a spherical surface on a flat piece of paper.

• Blue - Lakes, rivers, streams, oceans, reservoirs, etc.
• Red - Major highways, roads, urban areas, airports, special interest sites, military sites, place names, buildings, borders.
• Yellow - Built-up or urban areas.
• Green - Parks, golf courses, forest, orchards, highways.
• Brown - Deserts, historical sites, national parks, military reservations or bases, contour (elevation) lines.
• Black - Railroads, highways, bridges, place names, buildings, borders.

Maps are of various types. They are:

1. Physical Maps. They show natural features of the Earth like mountains, plateaus, plains, rivers, oceans etc.

Example: Physical map of the world.

2. Political Maps. Political maps show different countries and states of the world with their boundaries.

Example: Political map of India.

3. Thematic Maps. Maps showing specific information are called thematic maps.

Example: Road maps, rainfall maps, forest distribution maps, industries maps etc.

1. Maps can show more details.
2. Many maps when put together make an atlas and show various continents, countries and can provide information about any particular aspect.
3. Maps can be drawn in small scale as well as in large scale.
4. Maps can be folded/ rolled and are easily portable.

1. Distance,
2. Direction and
3. Symbol.

1. Distance:

1. Distance is measured with the help of a scale.

2. Direction:

1. Direction is known by the arrow marked with ‘N’ on the map.
2. It is also known by an instrument called compass.

3. Symbol:

1. Universally accepted marks or icons to depict information on the maps are known as symbols.

There are a number of benefits of using maps:

• Maps show accurate information of a small area.
• They can be carried with greater ease.
• Different types of maps are chosen to show various types of information as required, e.g., political maps, physical maps, weather maps and so on.
• Maps are used to make comparisons or deductions.