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Science 4: Types of Maps 75 Views


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Description:

There are tons of different types of maps. We practically need a map map to remember all of them. But don't worry, we've squeezed a few of the important ones into this video to make it easy on you.

Language:
English Language

Transcript

00:12

If you've ever wanted to live like a pirate, there are a number of different things you could do... [Kid wearing a pirate hat]

00:17

Spend the day wearing an eye patch...

00:18

Walk around with a parrot on your shoulder...

00:20

Or say “arr” at the beginning of every sentence. [Kid holding up a sword]

00:23

But if you're not interested in walking into objects and getting harassed by a bird all

00:27

day, then good news!

00:28

There's an easier way to feel pirate-like…

00:30

Yup!

00:30

By using a map to find nearby buried treasure! [Cross on the treasure map]

00:33

Or a nearby bathroom, pool, or anything else you might be looking for.

00:36

…hey, anything can be treasure if you try hard enough. [Guy runs out of a car]

00:39

Even a toilet.

00:40

But guess what?

00:41

There are tons of different maps in the world!

00:43

And each type of map has a bunch of different features… [Kid deciding over which map to use]

00:45

You'll usually find a title, which gives you a fairly good idea of what the map is trying

00:49

to show you, unless of course it's written in a different language…

00:52

…or by a bunch of liars.

00:54

But hey, for the purposes of this video, let's say you can actually read the map you're looking at. [Two people reading a map]

00:58

You'll also probably find some sort of scale bar, which shows how far apart everything [Finger pointing to the scale bar]

01:01

on the map is.

01:03

Then there's the legend – and no, it's not some fantastical story written out on the [Guy dressed in armour with a sword]

01:07

map about people with magic flying shoes or snakes for hair.

01:10

A legend is there to explain what all the different symbols and colors on the map mean. [Symbols appear on the map]

01:15

And there's almost always a compass rose, which shows the four main directions: north,

01:18

south, east, and west.

01:20

Pretty straightforward stuff, right? [Each direction is shown on the compass rose]

01:21

Okay, on to the map types.

01:23

First up: the physical map.

01:24

A physical map is called that because it shows, well, physical features of the land.

01:28

What a surprise, right?

01:30

Some physical features you might find shown on a physical map include mountains, bodies [Examples of the features are shown on the map]

01:34

of water like lakes and rivers, and elevation differences indicated by various colors to

01:38

show things like valleys and hills.

01:40

Typically speaking, green will mean lower elevations while brown means higher. [Different elevation portions of the map are shown]

01:45

Okay, so if a physical map shows physical features, then what do you think our next

01:49

map type, a topographic map, shows?

01:51

Topos?

01:52

That almost sounds right... except for the fact that a “topo” isn't exactly a real thing. [Lots of question marks appear on the map]

01:56

Topography is the study of the shape and features of the surface of the Earth, so a topographic

02:00

map aims to show exactly that.

02:02

How you may ask?

02:04

By using something called “contour lines,” which you can see pretty much all over this [Finger pointing to contour lines on the map]

02:07

topographic map.

02:09

So as you can see, a topographic map is pretty similar to a physical map, except that its

02:13

focus is on the very specific elevation and shape of the Earth's surface by using contour lines. [Contour lines overlaying a physical map]

02:18

When the contour lines are close together, the elevation is steeper – and when they're

02:21

further apart, it's not so steep. [Mountains are shown and then plains]

02:23

These are helpful when you're planning out a hiking route!

02:25

Sign us up for the far apart contour line trail! [Two guys climbing up a steep hill]

02:28

Next up is a political map.

02:30

And no, before you ask, you can't use it to find the president.

02:33

Even if you could, the Secret Service would stop you pretty fast. [Guy walking over to the president whilst looking at map]

02:36

The word “politics” here simply refers to the state and national boundaries of a

02:39

given place.

02:41

A map which shows all the different counties in a state, for instance, would be good example [Country names popping up all over a map]

02:45

of a political map.

02:46

And unlike the previous map types we've discussed, a political map doesn't focus on physical features.

02:51

It's all about boundaries.

02:52

Lastly we've got one of the most common maps out there. [Girl holding a map in a living room]

02:55

If you've ever been lost on a road trip with your family before, you just might be familiar

02:59

with this next map.

03:00

It's the granddaddy of phone GPS. [Family in a car in the middle of a woods]

03:03

The one your dad is probably flipping around and around in a desperate attempt to figure

03:06

out wherever you're supposed to go. [Driver stops to look at the map]

03:08

Yup, it's the good ol' fashioned road map, and its purpose is pretty obvious: to show

03:12

all the different roads, highways and landmarks in a given area. [Examples of the features are shown]

03:16

And while its main purpose is to help people get from point A to point B, it's ultimately [A route is drawn onto the map]

03:20

up to the reader to figure that all out.

03:22

Good luck, pops…

03:23

There are many other map types too – weather maps, climate maps, ocean floor maps, and [Pictures of the other type of maps]

03:28

maps for pretty much every possible thing you'd want to map.

03:31

If you could create your very own exciting and awesome map, what would it be? [Kid drawing his own map]

03:34

Maybe a map of all the nearest ice cream shops?

03:36

A map to the nearest movie theater or arcade?

03:38

Or maybe just a map to the toilet.

03:40

Hey, when you gotta go, you gotta get there fast. [Guy running to the toilet reading a map]

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