Symbols, Scale and Distance
Geography: KS3, topic 1.1.5
Symbols, Scale and Distance
OS Maps use symbols to show the location of different places on the map. All maps have a scale so that we can work out the distance between places and objects.
Symbols
- Symbols are used on all maps drawn to scale, this is because there isn’t enough room to draw the actual building to scale.
- These symbols include lots of simple images or letters.
- Some of the symbols are abbreviations such as:
- SCH for school.
- PO for Post Office.
Scale
- If the scale is 1:25,000 that means that objects on the map is 25,000 times smaller than in real life.
- This means that every 1cm is 25,000cm in the real world.
- If you use the scale line you will be able to work out the distance in cm and convert it into km.
Measuring distance
- Straight-line distances are easily measured with a ruler
- A piece of string can be used to measure distances on a map that are not in a straight-line, e.g. the course of a river.
- Digital maps, e.g. Google Maps, can measure both single straight-line and more complicated distances.
- Distances on digital maps are calculated by clicking on the starting point, followed by all the subsequent points you want to measure.
Test yourself on Symbols, Scale and Distance
Why are symbols used on maps drawn to scale?
Which method would you use to measure the length of a river on a paper map?