Std 8 Geography · Chapter 9

9. Map Scale

Complete solutions to the textbook exercise. Maharashtra State Board (Balbharati), Grade Eight Geography.

Exercise

1(a) Classify maps showing the following areas into small scale or large scale:

Area	Scale Classification
(1) Building	Large Scale Map
(2) School	Large Scale Map
(3) Country of India	Small Scale Map
(4) Church	Large Scale Map
(5) Mall	Large Scale Map
(6) World Map	Small Scale Map
(7) Garden	Large Scale Map
(8) Dispensary	Large Scale Map
(9) Maharashtra State	Small Scale Map
(10) The north sky at night	Small Scale Map

Rule of thumb: When a small area on the ground (like a school or a building) is shown covering a large area on paper, it uses a large scale (providing more details). When a vast area (like a state, country, or the world) is scaled down to fit on paper, it uses a small scale (providing fewer details).

1(b) There are two maps with respective scales of 1 cm = 100 m and 1 cm = 100 km. Give a well reasoned answer as to which of them would be a large scale map and which a small scale map. Recognize the type of maps.

1. Map with scale 1 cm = 100 m:
Here, 1 cm on the map represents only 100 meters on the ground. Because it covers a relatively small area per unit, it can show much more detail (like roads, buildings, and local features). Therefore, this is a Large Scale Map. Examples of this type include village maps, town plans, or agricultural field maps.

2. Map with scale 1 cm = 100 km:
Here, 1 cm on the map represents a massive 100 kilometers on the ground. Because it covers a very vast area per unit, it cannot show fine details and is used to show large extents of land. Therefore, this is a Small Scale Map. Examples of this type include atlas maps, maps of countries, continents, or the world.

2Using a map of India from the atlas measure straight line distance between the following cities and complete the table below.

Note: This is a practical map-reading activity. You must use a ruler to measure the straight line distance between the cities on the physical map in your school atlas. Then, multiply that measurement by the scale provided in your specific atlas to get the actual ground distance. Below are approximate actual straight-line distances for reference:

Mumbai to Bengaluru: Approximately 845 km
Vijaypura to Jaipur: Approximately 1100 km
Hyderabad to Surat: Approximately 720 km
Ujjain to Shimla: Approximately 890 km
Patna to Raipur: Approximately 620 km
Delhi to Kolkata: Approximately 1300 km

3(a) The distance between two points A and B on the Ground is 500m. Show this distance on paper by a line of 2cm. Express the map scale by any one method and mention it.

1. Find the scale for 1 cm:
If 2 cm on the map = 500 m on the ground,
Then 1 cm on the map = 500 / 2 = 250 m.

2. Expressing as a Verbal Scale:
Answer: 1 cm = 250 m

3. Expressing as a Numerical Scale (Ratio):
Convert meters to centimeters to make units uniform. We know 1 m = 100 cm.
Therefore, 250 m = 250 × 100 = 25,000 cm.
Answer: 1 : 25,000

3(b) Convert verbal scale of 1cm = 53km to a numerical scale.

1. Understand the requirement:
In a numerical scale, both sides of the ratio must be in the same unit (centimeters).

2. Convert kilometers to centimeters:
We know that 1 km = 1,00,000 cm.
Therefore, 53 km = 53 × 1,00,000 = 53,00,000 cm.

3. State the final ratio:
Since 1 cm on the map represents 53,00,000 cm on the ground, the numerical scale is:

Answer: 1 : 53,00,000

3(c) Convert the numerical scale of 1:10,000,000 to a verbal scale in the metric system.

1. Understand the given ratio:
The numerical scale 1:10,000,000 means that 1 cm on the map represents 10,000,000 cm on the ground.

2. Convert centimeters to kilometers:
To convert centimeters to meters, divide by 100. (10,000,000 ÷ 100 = 100,000 m)
To convert meters to kilometers, divide by 1,000. (100,000 ÷ 1,000 = 100 km)
(Alternatively, divide directly by 1,00,000)

3. State the verbal scale:
Since 1 cm represents 100 km, the verbal scale is stated with the respective units.

Answer: 1 cm = 100 km

4Help them, using road and railway maps of the state of Maharashtra. Use the scale given in the maps. (Ajay, Saloni, Vishwasrao route costs/distances).

Note: This is a practical map-reading exercise. To solve this, you need to look at a detailed road/railway map of Maharashtra in an Atlas. Use a thread to measure the curvy routes between the given cities (e.g., Beed to Aurangabad, then to Dhule, etc.), lay the thread straight on a ruler, and multiply the cm value by the map's scale to find total kilometers. Once you find the total kilometers, multiply by the given cost (Rs 12/- per km) to find Ajay's cost. Similar steps apply for Saloni's and Vishwasrao's journeys.

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