Micro-Scholarship, What it is, How can it help me.pdf
S2 GE Handout - Topo Map Reading
1. Teacher’s copy/Prepared by Miss Lena Teo 1
TOPOGRAPHICAL MAP READING
(A) Grid Reference
• Always remember to start reading from the bottom left corner. Read your X-axis first.
• Four-figure grid reference gives the GENERAL location of a particular
building/feature:
1. First, read the number for the easting (from the X-axis); then
2. Then, read the northings (from the Y-axis).
• Six-figure grid reference give the SPECIFIC location of a particular building/feature:
1. First, find the grid square with the feature/building asked in the question.
2. Then, use a ruler to divide the grid square into 10 equal parts along both the
eastings and northings.
3. Third, read the number for the easting first (from the X-axis); then
4. Lastly, read the northings (from the Y-axis).
Now you try!
Q) What is the four-figure grid reference of the Hindu temple shown in Fig. 1?
A) The four-figure grid reference is 2672.
Now you try!
Q) What is the six-figure grid reference of the Hindu temple shown in Fig. 2?
A) The six-figure grid reference is 266727.
2. Teacher’s copy/Prepared by Miss Lena Teo 2
(B) Compass Direction
• The compass points are also called cardinal points:
• To find the compass direction of one location to another location:
1. First, draw a straight line connecting the two locations/buildings.
2. Then read the question carefully –
⇒ If the question asks you the direction of A from B,
then draw a ‘+’ sign at B & read the direction from B.
⇒ If the question asks you the direction of B from A,
then draw a ‘+’ sign at A and read the direction from A.
North
EastWest
South
NortheastNorthwest
Southwest Southeast
Now you try!
Q) Find the direction of Midland from
Saginaw:
1. Draw the ‘+’ sign at Saginaw;
2. Then read the direction from
Saginaw.
A) Midland is located Northeast of
Saginaw.
Now you try!
Q) Eg. Find the direction of Saginaw
from Midland:
1. Draw the ‘+’ sign at Midland;
2. Then read the direction from
Midland.
A) Saginaw is located Southwest of
Midland.
3. Teacher’s copy/Prepared by Miss Lena Teo 3
• To find the compass bearing of between two locations:
1. First, draw a straight line connecting the two locations/buildings.
2. Then read the question carefully –
⇒ If the question asks you the direction of A from B,
then draw a ‘+’ sign at B & read the direction from B.
(C) Straight Line Distances
• Maps will always show things smaller than they are in reality. But things shown on maps
are always drawn to scale. Meaning, the size of the things (ie. buildings/features/distances)
on the map is always drawn using a ratio to the actual distance on the ground.
• Eg.
• To measure the straight line distance between two locations:
1. First, draw a straight line connecting the two locations/buildings.
2. Use a ruler to measure the distance between the two locations.
Eg. You measured 2 cm on your ruler.
Now you try!
Q) Find the bearing of the church
from the Dairy Farm:
1. Draw the ‘+’ sign at the Dairy
Farm;
2. The angle you want to find starts
from the 12 o’clock point.
3. Read clockwise starting from 0º
.
A) The compass bearing of the church
from the Dairy Farm is ________.
Size of church drawn on map: Size of church in reality
(5 times bigger):
[Scale] 1 : 5 (meaning 1 cm on the map represents 5 cm on the
ground – always same units!!)
[Ratio] map : reality = 1 : 5
4. Teacher’s copy/Prepared by Miss Lena Teo 4
3. Refer to the scale of the map to find the actual distance on the ground.
Eg. The scale states 1 : 50 000
meaning, 1 cm on map represents 50 000cm/500m/0.5km on the ground.
thus the 2 cm you measured on your ruler represents (2x0.5km=) 1 km
on the ground.
Now you try!
Q) Find the straight line distance
between the Chestnut Hill School and
the Dairy Farm:
1. Draw a straight line connecting
both locations.
2. Then use your ruler to measure
the distance between them.
Ruler measurement: 6.5 cm.
3. Refer to the scale on the map;
take note of the unit conversion.
1 cm (map) = 25 000 cm (actual)
1 cm (map) = 250 m (actual)
1 cm (map) = 0.25 km (actual)
6.5 cm (map) = 1.625 km (actual)
A) The straight line distance is
1.625 km / 1625 m.
Scale 1 : 25 000
5. Teacher’s copy/Prepared by Miss Lena Teo 5
(D) Contour Lines
• Contour lines show the height of the land.
o When the contour lines are drawn close together, it means that the height of the
land changes a lot over a short distance represents a steep slope.
o When the contour lines are drawn far apart, it means that the height of the land
changes very little over a short distance represents a gentle slope.
• Contour lines have regular intervals (ie. equal increase/decrease in height between each
line)
Steep
slopeGentle
slope
