Describe the method to measure the distance along a straight line a on map.
(no lengthy answers guys ! )
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How to Measure a Straight Line Distance Using a Topo Map
Co-authored by wikiHow Staff | 10 References
Updated: March 29, 2019
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Finding Distance Using the Bar Scale
Finding Distance Using the Representative Fraction
Taking Further Measurements
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A topographic map is a two-dimensional map that represents a three-dimensional area using contour lines to indicate elevation of the earth’s surface. The first means of measuring distance on a topographical map, or any map, is the straight line distance, which indicates a straight distance “as the crow flies.” This measurement is taken before calculating the slope of the land or other features that would impact the total travel distance. Learn how to measure this basic straight line distance successfully.
Method
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Finding Distance Using the Bar Scale
Image titled Measure a Straight Line Distance Using a Topo Map Step 1
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Lay a piece of paper down on the map and mark it. Place a straight edge of a piece of paper onto your map. Line up the edge with both the first (“point A”) and second (“point B”) points you want to measure the distance between, then make a tick mark on the paper where each point is.[1]
Make sure your piece of paper is long enough to make your 2 tick marks. Note that this method works better for shorter line distances.
Hold the edge of the paper still on the map and mark as accurately as possible where the paper lines up to your 2 points.
Image titled Measure a Straight Line Distance Using a Topo Map Step 2
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Hold your measurement up to the bar scale. Locate the bar scale on your topographic map, which is typically found in the lower left. Place your piece of paper with the 2 tick marks against the bar scale to begin to read the distance indicated. Note first the ratio that's represented by the bar scale. This indicates that 1 unit of measurement on the map equals a certain number of units on the ground.
For instance, a common topo map might have a 1:100,000 scale, where 1 centimeter equals 1 kilometer.[2]
The bar scale may also contain a primary scale, which shows whole units increasing from 0, left to right. There's also an extension scale, which shows fractions of a unit increasing from 0, right to left.[3]
Use this method if you have a short distance between your tick marks
Read UTM Coordinates
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