CBSE
/ NCERT SOLUTIONS CLASS 11
ON
PRACTICAL
WORK IN GEOGRAPHY
CHAPTER
1 INTRODUCTION TO MAPS
STUDY MATERIALS ON INTRODUCTION TO MAPS
·
The history of map making is as old as the history of mankind
itself. The oldest map was found in Mesopotamia drawn on a clay tablet that
belongs to 2,500 B.C.
·
Greek and Arab geographers laid the foundation of modern
cartography. The measurement of the circumference of the Earth and the use of
the system of geographical coordinates in map-making are some of the
significant contributions of the Greeks and the Arabs.
·
The art and science of map making was revitalised in early
modern period, with extensive efforts made to minimise the effects of the
transformation of the geoid onto a plane surface.
·
The foundation of map-making in India was laid during the Vedic
period when the expressions of astronomical truths and cosmological revelations
were made. The expressions were crystallised into ‘sidhantas’ or laws in
classical treaties of Arya Bhatta, Varahamihira and Bhaskara, and others.
Ancient Indian scholars divided the known world into seven ‘dwipas’.
Mahabharata conceived a round world surrounded by water.
·
Todarmal pioneered land surveying and map-making as an integral
part of the revenue collection procedure. Besides, Sher Shah Suri’s revenue
maps further enriched the mapping techniques during the medieval period.
·
The intensive topographical surveys for the preparation of
up-to-date maps of the entire country, were taken up with the setting up of the
Survey of India in 1767, which culminated with the map of Hindustan in 1785.
Today, the Survey of India produces maps at different scales for the entire
country.
·
On the basis of scale, maps may be classified into large-scale
and small-scale.
·
Large scale maps are drawn to show small areas at a relatively
large-scale. For example, the topographical maps drawn at a scale of 1:
250,000,1:50,000 or 1:25,000 and the village maps, the zonal plans of the
cities and house plans prepared on a scale of 1:4,000, 1:2,000 and 1:500 are
large scale maps.
·
On the contrary, small-scale maps are drawn to show large areas.
For example, atlas maps, wall maps, etc.
·
Large-scale maps may be shown as Cadastral maps and
Topographical maps
·
The cadastral maps are prepared by the government agencies to
realise revenue and taxes, along with keeping a record of ownership. These maps
are drawn on a very large scale, such as the cadastral maps of villages at 1:
4,000 scale and the city plans at a scale of 1: 2,000 and larger.
·
Topographical Maps are also prepared on a fairly large scale.
The topographical maps are based on precise surveys and are prepared in the
form of series of maps made by the national mapping agencies of almost all
countries of the world.
·
Small-scale maps are further divided into Wall Maps and Atlas
Maps.
·
Wall Maps are generally drawn on large size paper or on plastic
base for use in classrooms or lecture halls. The scale of wall maps is
generally smaller than the scale of topographical maps but larger than atlas
maps.
·
Atlas Maps are very small-scale maps. These maps represent
fairly large areas and present highly generalised picture of the physical or
cultural features.
·
Broadly, maps based on their functions may be classified into
physical maps and cultural maps. Physical maps show natural features such as
relief, geology, soils, drainage, elements of weather, climate and vegetation,
etc.
·
Relief maps show general topography of an area like mountains
and valleys, plains, plateaus and drainage. Geological Maps are drawn to show
geological structures, rock types, etc.
·
Climatic Maps depict climatic regions of an area. Besides, maps
are also drawn to show the distribution of temperature.
·
Ratometer is an instrument used to measure distance on a map and
planimetre is an instrument used to measure area on a map.
·
The linear features shown on the maps fall into two broad
categories, i.e. straight lines and erratic or zigzag lines. The measurement of
straight line features like roads, railway lines and canals is simple. It can
be taken directly with a pair of dividers or a scale placed on the map surface.
·
The processes that may also be referred to as essentials of maps
are:
·
Scale
·
Map Projection
·
Map Generalisation
·
Map Design
·
Map Construction and Production
IMPORTANT TERMS ON INTRODUCTION
TO MAPS
·
Maps: A map is a simplified depiction of whole or part of the earth
on a piece of paper. In other words, it is a two-dimensional form of the
three-dimensional earth.
·
Geoid: An oblate spheroid whose shape resembles the actual shape of
the Earth.
·
Cadastral map: It is a large-scale map drawn at a scale of 1: 500
to 1: 4000 to show property boundaries, designating each parcel of land with a
number.
·
Cardinal points: North (N), South (S), East (E) and West (W) are
called cardinal points.
·
Cartography: It is an art, science and technology of making maps, charts,
plans and other modes of graphical expression as well as their study and use.
·
Map series: It is a group of maps produced at same scale,
style and specifications for a country or a region.
·
Map projection: The system of the transformation of the
spherical surface onto a plane surface is called map projection.
·
Scale: The ratio between the distances of two points on the map, plan
or photograph and the actual distance between the same two points on the ground
is called scale.
·
Direction: Direction is defined as an imaginary straight line on the map
showing the angular position to a common base direction.
·
Zero direction or the base direction line: The line
pointing to the north is zero direction or the base direction line.
·
Ratometer: It is an instrument used to measure distance on a map.
·
Sketch map: It is a simplified map drawn freehand which fails
to preserve the true scale or orientation.
·
Large-scale maps: These maps are drawn to show small
areas at a relatively large-scale. For example, the topographical maps drawn at
a scale of 1: 250,000,1: 50,000 or 1: 25,000 and the village maps, the zonal
plans of the cities and house plans prepared on a scale of 1 : 4,000, 1 : 2,000
and 1 : 500 are large scale maps.
·
Small-scale maps: These maps are drawn to show large
areas. For example, atlas maps, wall maps, etc.
·
The cadastral maps: These maps are prepared by the
government agencies to realise revenue and taxes, along with keeping a record
of ownership. These maps are drawn on a very large scale, such as the cadastral
maps of villages at 1: 4,000 scale and the city plans at a scale of 1 : 2,000
and larger.
·
Topographical maps: The topographical
maps are based on precise surveys and are prepared in the form of series of
maps made by the national mapping agencies of almost all countries of the
world. These maps are also prepared on a fairly large scale.
·
Wall maps: These maps are generally drawn on large size paper
or on plastic base for use in classrooms or lecture halls. The scale of wall
maps is generally smaller than the scale of topographical maps but larger than
atlas maps.
·
Atlas maps: These maps are very small-scale maps. These maps
represent fairly large areas and present highly generalised picture of the
physical or cultural features.
·
Physical maps: Physical maps show natural features such as
relief, geology, soils, drainage, elements of weather, climate and vegetation,
etc.
·
Relief maps: Relief maps show general topography of an area
like mountains and valleys, plains, plateaus and drainage.
·
Geological maps: Geological Maps are drawn to show geological
structures, rock types, etc.
·
Climatic Maps: Climatic Maps depict climatic regions of an area.
Besides, maps are also drawn to show the distribution of temperature.
·
Cultural maps: Cultural maps show man-made features. These
include a variety of maps showing population distribution and growth, sex and
age, social and religious composition, literacy, levels of educational
attainment, occupational structure, location of settlements, facilities and
services, transportation lines and production, distribution and flow of
different commodities.
·
Political maps: These maps show the administrative divisions of an
area such as country, state or district. These maps facilitate the administrative
machinery in planning and management of the concerned administrative unit.
·
Population maps: The population maps are drawn to show the
distribution, density and growth of population, age and sex composition,
distribution of religious, linguistic and social groups, occupational structure
of the population, etc.
·
Economic maps: Economic maps depict production and distribution
of different types of crops and minerals, location of industries and markets,
routes for trade and flow of commodities.
·
Transportation maps: These maps show
roads, railway lines and the location of railway stations and airports.
·
Planimeter: It is an instrument used to measure area on a map.
·
Generalisation map: It is a simplified
representation of the features on the map, appropriate to its scale or purpose,
without affecting their visual form. A selective, symbolised and generalised
representation of the whole or part of the earth at a reduced scale.
SOLUTIONS OF THE CHAPTER
1. Choose the right answer
from the four alternatives given below:
Q 1(i). Which one of the
following is essential for the network of lines and polygons to be called a map?
(a) Map Legend (b) Symbols (c)
North Direction (d) Map
Scale.
Ans: (d) Map Scale.
Q 1(ii). A map bearing a
scale of 1: 4000 and larger is called:
(a) Cadastral map (b) Topographical map (c) Wall map (d) Atlas map.
Ans: (a) Cadastral map
Q 1(iii). Which one of the
following is NOT an essential element of maps?
(a) Map Projection (b) Map Generalisation (c) Map Design (d) History of Maps
Ans: (d) History of Maps
2. Answer the following
questions in about 30 words:
Q 2(i). What is map
generalisation?
Ans: As maps are drawn at a
reduced scale to serve a definite purpose, it is the job of a cartographer is
to generalise the map contents. In doing so, a cartographer must select the
data relevant to the selected theme and simplify it as per the needs. It is
called map generalization. Every map is drawn with a definite objective. For
example, a general purpose map is drawn to show information of a general nature
such as relief, drainage, vegetation, settlements, means of transportation,
etc. Similarly, a special purpose map exhibits information pertaining to one or
more selected themes like population density, soil types or location of
industries. It is, therefore, necessary to carefully plan the map contents
while the purpose of the map must be kept in the forefront.
Q 2(ii). Why is map design
important?
Ans: Map Design is very
important as it involves the planning of graphic characteristics of maps
including the selection of appropriate symbols, their size and form, style of
lettering, specifying the width of lines, selection of colours and shades,
arrangement of various elements of map design within a map and design for map
legend. The map design is a complex aspect of map-making and requires thorough
understanding of the principles that govern the effectiveness of graphic
communication.
Q 2(iii). What are different
types of small-scale maps?
Ans: Small-scale maps are
divided into two types:
1. Wall Maps: These maps
are generally drawn on large size paper or on plastic base for use in
classrooms or lecture halls. The scale of wall maps is generally smaller than
the scale of topographical maps but larger than atlas maps.
2. Atlas Maps: Atlas maps
are very small-scale maps. These maps represent fairly large areas and present
highly generalized picture of the physical or cultural features. Even so, an
atlas map serves as a graphic encyclopaedia of the geographical information
about the world, continents, countries or regions.
Q 2(iv). List out two major
types of large-scale maps?
Ans: Large-scale maps are
divided into two types:
1. Cadastral maps: The term
‘cadastral’ is derived from the French word ‘cadastre’ meaning ‘register of
territorial property’. These maps are drawn to show the ownership of landed
property by demarcating field boundaries of agricultural land and the plan of
individual houses in urban areas. The cadastral maps are prepared by the
government agencies to realise revenue and taxes, along with keeping a record
of ownership.
2. Topographical Maps:
These maps are also prepared on a fairly large scale. The topographical maps
are based on precise surveys and are prepared in the form of series of maps
made by the national mapping agencies of almost all countries of the world.
These maps follow uniform colours and symbols to show topographic details such
as relief, drainage, agricultural land, forest, settlements, means of
communication, location of schools, post offices and other services and
facilities.
Q 2(v). Is a map different
from a sketch?
Ans: A simplified map has
drawn freehand which fails to preserve the true scale or orientation. Map is a
part of the earth’s surface on a plane surface at a reduced scale. It may also
be understood that a simple network of lines and polygons without a scale shall
not be called a map. It is only referred to as “the sketch”. In simple words,
map has a specific scale and sketch does not have a scale. Map is drawn
scientifically and sketch is drawn roughly. Sketch drawing is an art while map
making is a science and science of maps is called cartography.
Q 3. Write an explanatory
account of types of maps.
Ans:
On the basis of scale:
1. Large-scale maps:
These maps are drawn to show small areas at a relatively large-scale. For
example, the topographical maps drawn at a scale of 1 : 250,000, 1 : 50,000 or
1 : 25,000 and the village maps, the zonal plans of the cities and house plans
prepared on a scale of 1: 4,000,1: 2,000 and 1: 500 are large-scale maps. These
are of two types:
a) Cadastral
Maps b) Topographical
Maps
2. Small-scale maps:
These maps are drawn to show large areas. These are of two types:
a) Wall
Maps and b) Atlas Maps
On the basis of
functions, maps are of two types:
1. Physical maps:
Physical maps show natural features such as relief, geology, soils, drainage,
elements of weather, climate and vegetation, etc. Physical maps include relief
maps, geological maps and climatic maps.
2. Cultural maps:
Cultural maps show man-made features. These include a variety of maps showing
population distribution and growth, sex and age, social and religious
composition, literacy, levels of educational attainment, occupational structure,
location of settlements, facilities and services, transportation lines and
production, distribution and flow of different commodities. It includes
political maps, population maps, economic maps and transportation maps.
EXTRA QUESTIONS
Q 1. Which of the following
is not a type of physical map?
(а) Relief Map (b) Geological Maps (c) Climate Maps (d)
Transportation Maps
Ans: (d) Transportation Maps
Q 2. Which of the following
is not a type of cultural maps?
(а) Political Maps (b) Population Maps (c) Soil Maps (d) Economic Maps
Ans: (c) Soil Maps
Q 3. What is shown under
geological maps?
(a) Temperature and rain (b)
Plateaus, plains and mountains
(c) Geological
structure, types of rocks (d) Types of
Soils
Ans: (c) Geological
structure, types of rocks
Q 4. Which of the following
is not an essential for map making?
(a) Scale (b) Map Design (c) Sketch (d) Map
Generalization
Ans: (c) Sketch
Q 5. A system of
transformation of the spherical surface to the plane surface is called:
(a) Map projection (b) Geoid (c) Map Designing (d)
Sketch
Ans: (a) Map Projection
Q 6. An oblate spheroid
whose shape resembles the actual shape of the Earth is called:
(a) Map projection (b) Geoid (c) Map Designing (d)
Sketch
Ans: (b) Geoid
Q 7. Which of the following
is not relief map?
(a) Mountain (b) Plateau (c) Soil (d)
Plains
Ans: (c) Soil
Q 8. When was Survey of
India established?
(a) 1767 (b) 1772 (c)
1785 (d) 1905
Ans: (a) 1767
Q 9. When was first map was
made by India by Survey of India?
(a) 1767 (b)1772 (c)
1785 (d) 1905
Ans: (c) 1785
Q 10. What is not shown
under climate maps?
(a) Temperature (b) Direction of winds (c) Rain (d) Ecological
System
Ans: (d) Ecological System
Q 11. In how many continents
have Indian ancient scholars divided the world?
(a) Seven (b) Five (c)
none (d) Eleven
Ans: (a) Seven
VERY SHORT ANSWER TYPE
QUESTIONS
Q 1. What is a map?
Answer: A map is a
simplified depiction of whole or part of the earth on a piece of paper. In
other words, it is a two-dimensional form of the three-dimensional earth.
Q 2. How is scale expressed
on a map?
Answer: Scale is
expressed in three ways on a map:
1. By a statement
2. By graphical or bar
scale
3. By representative
fraction method
Q 3. Differentiate between
globe and map.
Answer:
|
S.No. |
Globe |
Map |
|
1. |
Globe is such a model
of the earth which gives us the right form of the earth. |
A map is a simplified
depiction of whole or part of the earth on a piece of paper. |
|
2. |
It is more accurate
but it is difficult to use it. |
It is relatively less
accurate but it is easy to be handled. |
|
3. |
It is three
dimensional. |
It is two dimensional. |
Q 4. What are the essentials of map making?
Ans: There are five
essentials of map making. These are: Scale, map projection, map generalisation,
map design and map construction and production.
Q 5. What is the importance
of maps for geographers?
Ans: Maps are extremely
important for a geographer. Without maps, a geographer is like armless soldier.
Maps provide him extremely important information.
Q 6. What are two components
of a map?
Ans: Distance and direction
are two components of maps.
Q 7. What are important
directions?
Ans: Important directions
are North (N), South (S), East (E) and West (W).
Q 8. What are the important
relationships that we search in maps?
Ans: We search the following
physical relationships in a map:
·
Shapes of land forms, oceans and political units;
·
their areas;
·
distances between the places;
·
direction of each place in context of other places;
·
location of different places in context of entire earth.
Q 9. What are the basic
limitations of maps?
Ans: Map is two dimensional.
It is impossible to present the accurate shape of the earth with the help of
map. Moreover, it can’t be accurate in terms of area, volume and distance.
Above all, we cannot show the entire earth on a map without disturbing its
shape.
Q 10. When was oldest map
drawn?
Ans: The oldest map was
found in Mesopotamia drawn on a clay tablet that belongs to 2,500 B.C.
SHORT ANSWER TYPE
QUESTIONS
Q 1. Why are maps considered
an important tool for geography?
Ans: Geographers need maps
for following purposes:
·
To get information about resources, their development and
planning for their utilization;
·
To study changes that are taking place on the earth;
·
To understand various physical factors;
·
To understand the inter-relationship between physical and human
resources;
·
To make a comparative analysis and
·
To present facts in a way that has a memorizing effect.
Q 2. How is area of map
measured using a planimeter?
Ans: The area calculation is
also carried out using Polar Planimeter. In this instrument, a measure is made
of the movement of a rod whose locus is constrained by having one end fixed to
a radial arc. The area to be measured is traced along its perimeter in a
clockwise direction with an index mark, starting from one convenient point to
which the index of the tracing arm must exactly return. Reading on the dial,
before and after the tracing of area’s perimeter, will give a value in
instrumental units. These readings are multiplied by the same constant for the
particular instrument to convert into areas in square inches or centimetres.
Q 3. How is direction of map
measured?
Ans: Direction is defined as
an imaginary straight line on the map showing the angular position to a common
base direction. The line pointing to the north is zero direction or the base
direction line. A map always shows the north direction. All other directions
are determined in to this relation. The north direction enables the map- user
to locate different features with respect to each other. The four commonly
known directions are North, South, East and West. These are also called the
cardinal points. In between the cardinal points, one may have several
intermediate directions.
Q 4. How is distance between
maps measured by geographer, planner and other resource researcher?
Ans: The linear features
shown on the maps fall into two broad categories, i. e. straight lines and
erratic or zigzag lines. The measurement of straight line features like roads,
railway lines and canals is simple. It can be taken directly with a pair of
dividers or a scale placed on the map surface. However, distances are required,
more often, along erratic paths, i.e. the coastlines, rivers and streams. The
distances along all such features can be measured by placing a thread at the
starting point and carrying it along the line up to the end point. The thread
is then stretched and measured to determine the distance. It can also be
measured by using a simple instrument called Rotameter. The wheel of the
‘rotameter’ is moved along the route to measure the distance.
Q 5. Explain in detail about
physical maps.
Ans: Physical maps: Physical
maps show- natural features such as relief, geology, soils, drainage, elements
of weather, climate and vegetation, etc. These are of following types:
1. Relief Maps: Relief maps
show general topography of an area like mountains and valleys, plains, plateaus
and drainage.
2. Geological maps:
Geological Maps are drawn to show geological structures, rock types, etc.
3. Climatic Maps: Climatic
Maps depict climatic regions of an area. Besides, maps are also drawn to show
the distribution of temperature.
LONG ANSWER TYPE
QUESTIONS
Q 1. Explain the essentials
of map making.
Ans: There are five
essentials of map making. These are: Scale, map projection, map generalisation,
map design and map construction and production.
1. Scale: All maps are
reductions. The first decision that a map-maker has to take is about the scale
of the map. The choice of scale is of utmost importance. The scale of a map
sets limits of information contents and the degree of reality with which it can
be delineated on the map.
2. Projection: Maps are
a simplified representation of the three-dimensional surface of the earth on a
plane sheet of paper. The transformation of all-side- curved-geoidal surface
into a plane surface is another important aspect of the cartographic process.
Such a radical transformation introduces some unavoidable changes in
directions, distances, areas and shapes from the way they appear on a geoid. A
system of transformation of the spherical surface to the plane surface is
called a map projection. Hence, the choice, utilisation and construction of
projections is of prime importance in map-making.
3. Generalisation: Every
map is drawn with a definite objective. For example, a general purpose map is
drawn to show information of a general nature such as relief, drainage,
vegetation, settlements, means of transportation, etc. Similarly, a special
purpose map exhibits information pertaining to one or more selected themes like
population density, soil types or location of industries. It is, therefore,
necessary to carefully plan the map contents while the purpose of the map must
be kept in the forefront.
4. Map Design: It
involves the planning of graphic characteristics of maps including the
selection of appropriate symbols, their size and form, style of lettering,
specifying the width of lines, selection of colours and shades, arrangement of
various elements of map design within a map and design for map legend.
5. Map Construction and
Production: The drawing of maps and their reproduction is the fifth major task
in the cartographic process. It can be manual or computerised method.
Q 2. How does a geographer
measure the distance?
Ans: The measurement of area
of features like that of administrative and geographic units is also carried
out over the surface of the map by map-users. There are different methods in
which areas can be determined.
1. By means of regular
pattern of squares: In this method, the area to be measured is covered by
squares by placing a sheet of graph paper beneath the map on an illuminated
tracing table or by tracing the area onto the square sheet. The total number of
‘whole squares’ are summed up, together with ‘partial squares’. The area is
then determined by a simple equation:
2. By using Polar
Planimeter: In this instrument, a measure is made of the movement of a rod
whose locus is constrained by having one end fixed to a radial arc. The area to
be measured is traced along its perimeter in a clockwise direction with an
index mark, starting from one convenient point to which the index of the
tracing arm must exactly return. Reading on the dial, before and after the
tracing of area’s perimeter, will give a value in instrumental units. These
readings are multiplied by the same constant for the particular instrument to
convert into areas in square inches or centimetres.
Q 3. Explain in detail about
cultural maps.
Ans: Cultural Maps: Cultural
maps show man-made features. These include a variety of maps showing population
distribution and growth, sex and age, social and religious composition,
literacy, levels of educational attainment, occupational structure, location of
settlements, facilities and services, transportation lines and production,
distribution and flow of different commodities.
·
Political Maps: These maps show the administrative divisions of
an area such as country, state or district. These maps facilitate the
administrative machinery in planning and management of the concerned
administrative unit.
·
Population Maps: The population maps are drawn to show the
distribution, density and growth of population, age and sex composition,
distribution of religious, linguistic and social groups, occupational structure
of the population, etc.
·
Economic Maps: Economic maps depict production and distribution of
different types of crops and minerals, location of industries and markets,
routes for trade and flow of commodities.
·
Transportation Maps: These maps show roads, railway lines and
the location of railway stations and airports.
ORAL EXERCISE
Q 1. Why is Ratometer used?
Ans: Ratometer is an
instrument used to measure distance on a map.
Q 2. Why is Planimeter used?
Ans: Planimeter is an
instrument used to measure area on a map.
Q 3. Where was oldest map
found?
Ans: The oldest map was
found in Mesopotamia drawn on a clay tablet that belongs to 2,500 B.C.
Q 4. Which maps are
generally drawn on large size paper or on plastic base for use in classrooms or
lecture halls?
Ans: Wall maps are generally
drawn on large size paper or on plastic base for use in classrooms or lecture
halls.
Q 5. Give formula for
measuring distance used by geographers.
Ans:
Q 6. What do we call a
system of transformation of the spherical surface to the plane surface?
Ans: Map Projection.
Q 7. What do we call an
oblate spheroid whose shape resembles the actual shape of the Earth?
Ans: Geoid.
Q 8. When was Survey of
India established?
Ans: 1767.
Q 9. When was first map made
by Survey of India?
Ans: 1785.
Q 10. In how many continents
have Indian ancient scholars divided the world?
Ans: Seven.
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