The difference between a diagram and map

Let us take a quick look at the difference between a diagram and map in map reading exercise

• Diagrams can be defined as simplified drawings that show the appearance and different parts of something.
• Diagrams are usually line drawing that has labels.
• The labels help to explain how something works or how something should be done.
• A diagram often shows something in three dimensions, that is: how long it is, how broad (or wide) it is and how high it is.
• This can be abbreviated as L x B x H or 3D.
• Example of a diagram is a plan for the house showing all the rooms in the house or a sports field showing the dimension of each part of the field.
• On the other hand, a map is a specific type of plan that is a representation of a real place.
• This means that it shows a likeness or image of a place, but it is much smaller than the real place.
• A map represents an area of land. It can show physical features of nature, such as mountains and valleys unlike a diagram.

Characteristics of a map

• Symbols in a map key(A key)
• Direction indicator (Compass)
• Grid systems
• Scale
• Elevation Symbols in a map key
• Symbols on map are used to represent about information about a place to show different things. Each symbol on a map tells something different about a place.
• The key is the name for the list of symbols and the description of what each symbols means.

Types of map symbols Point symbols:

• These mark specific place where something important must be shown.
• The point can be a dot, square, triangle or a special symbol developed by the cartographer.

Line symbols:

These show the route taken by roads or railways.

They can also show the course of a river or a boundary line between countries

Polygons:

These are shapes with many sides of different lengths.

They show areas such as forests, the surface of a lake, or farmland used for a specific crop

EXAMPLES OF CERTAIN SYMBOLS OF SOME MAPS

Symbols or conventional signs

• Symbols or conventional signs used on a map are shown in the key at the bottom of the map.
• Symbols or conventional signs are needed because it is impossible to show many features correctly according to scale for they will be too small to be seen.
• Symbols are helpful as they show what the land is like and what man makes use of it as well as the way man lives.
• However symbols or conventional signs are dependent on each and every map used meaning that a pupil must study the key of every map given

Direction indicator

• It is used to show directions on a map. It can be a small drawing with arrows showing the cardinal points on a compass; north, south, west and east.
• Maps are usually drawn with north at the top of the map.

Grid systems

• A grid is a pattern of lines that cross each other, forming rows from side to side and columns from top to bottom.
• A grid system is used to describe the position of any given point within the grid pattern.
• The starting place for reading the grid reference is called the point of origin and it is important to take note of it.

A scale

• A map scale gives the relationship between distance on a map and distance on the actual ground.

Types of scales

Statement of scale (word scale)

• A statement of scale or word sale uses words to describe the relationship between the units measured on the map and the units measured on the actual ground.
• For example, one centimeter on the map to represent two kilometers on the ground.
• This can be abbreviated as 1 cm represents 2km.

Ratio scale (Representative fraction (R.F. scale)

• This type of scale uses only numbers to describe the relationship between the distance on the ground and that on the map. For example, 1:50,000 or

Line scale

• A line scale is a line drawn below the map that shows the relationship between map distance and ground distance.
• The length of the line matches the distance on the map. The units of measurement that are labeled on the line represent the distance on the ground.

Elevation

• Elevation means the height of a place in landscape.
• Another word with a similar meaning is altitude, which means height above mean or average sea level.
• Elevation is a characteristic of relief maps and topographic maps only.