|
GEL 1008 PHYSICAL GEOLOGY |
Physical Geology On-line Lab and Helpful Lab Hints
Exercise 6: Topographic Maps
Scale Conversions
Refer to page 102 in the lab manual, or use my method described below. Conversion factors are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Problem 1d | |||
| example: 1:4,000 (unitless scale) can be written with the same units on both sides | |||
| such as: | 1 inch = 4,000 inches | 4,000 inches is 333 feet | so: 1 inch = 333 feet |
| 333 feet is 0.06 miles | so: 1 inch = 0.06 miles | ||
| or: | 1 cm = 4,000 cm | 4,000 cm is 40 meters | so: 1 cm = 40 meters |
| 40 meters is .04 kilometers | so: 1 cm = .04 kilometers | ||
| examples: in order to write as a unitless scale, convert the right side to the same units as the left | |||
| such as: | 1 inch = 3 miles | 3 miles is 15,840 feet | |
| 15,840 feet is 190,080 inches | so: 1 inch = 190,080 inches | ||
| or: 1:190,080 | |||
| or: | 1 cm = 4 km | 4 kilometers is 4000 meters | |
| 4000 meters is 400,000 cm | so: 1 cm = 400,000 cm | ||
| or: 1:400,000 | |||
| Selected conversion factors |
| 1 mile = 5280 feet |
| 1 kilometer = 1000 meters |
| 1 meter = 100 centimeters |