1.5 Scales Problems and Solutions
1.5 Scales Problems and Solutions
1.5 Scales Problems and Solutions
Overview of Scales
While preparing for scales, the following steps are to be followed:
For calculating RF, always consider the linear dimension only. If square units are
mentioned in dimensions, find the square root and if cubes (volumes) are mentioned,
find the cube root of the ratio to get the RF.
= 1/1000.
= 2 / 100000
= 1/50000
= 1 / 200.
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LOS is the actual length of the scale that is drawn for the given problem.
E.g. (i) For a plain scale, RF = ¼ and M.L = 5 decimeters, Find LOS.
= 12.5 cm.
The length of the line that is drawn on the drawing sheet is 12.5 cm.
(ii) For a diagonal scale, RF = 3/200 & M.L = 6 meters. Calculate the L.O.S
= 9 cm.
The length of the line that is drawn on the drawing sheet is 9 cm.
2
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After drawing a line of length equal to LOS, the next step is to divide the line into a
certain no. of equal parts. This is found by checking the Maximum Length.
E.g. If LOS = 12.5 cm and ML = 5 dm, then Divide LOS into 5 equal parts
so that each part represents 1 dm.
If ML in the given problem is greater than 10, then we have to take the factors
of the ML and divide the LOS.
Eg1. If ML = 25m, then we can’t divide the LOS into 25 parts. Hence take the factors
of 25, i.e. 5 x 5. Hence divide the LOS into 5 equal parts so that each part represents
5m.
Thus, If factors of ML are m x n, then divide ML into m equal parts of n units each.
Sometimes, the ML will be given in terms of a non related scale units. Then, we need to
convert the ML into the units used in the scale and then divide LOS into ML no.of parts.
Eg 3: Draw a plain scale to show decimeters & centimeters and to measure upto 1m.
Sol: Here, we know that a plain scale relates only a main unit and its immediate sub
unit. Thus, after dm, cm is its sub unit. So, meter is a unit not required in the scale. But
ML is given in meters. So it has to be converted into dm since dm is the main scale.
Thus, ML = 1 m = 10 dm. Hence, the LOS can be divided into 10 equal parts.
3
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The first part of all the scales is always divided into sub-divisions depending on
the main unit and the sub units.
4
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Plain Scales
Plain scales are used for measurement in two units or a unit and its sub unit. It consists of
a line (LOS) divided into suitable no. of equal parts (based on Max Length, ML) & the
first part is sub-divided into equal parts.
The zero is placed at the end of 1st main division. Labeling of 0 in main scale is after the
first unit.
1) Find RF.
4) Draw the line of length = LOS & divide it into n equal parts based
on ML. Draw a rectangle on LOS of height 5 mm.
5) Divide the first division also into some equal parts based on the unit
and its sub-unit given in the problem.
10 8 6 4 2 0 1 2 3
R.F = 1/100
5
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As solved examples are explained well in the text book (ND Bhat), only
exercise problems are presented in this notes.
Page 65:-
Q2) Construct a scale of 1:5 to show decimeters and centimeters and to read up to 1 meter.
Show the length of 7.6 dm on it.
RF = 1/5
Max Length (ML) = 10 dm (1 m =10 dm) ;( no. of parts of scale (n) =10 parts)
Length of scale (LOS) = RF X ML
= 1/5 X 10 X 10 cm (1 dm=10cm)
= 20 cm.
7.6 dm
10 6 3
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
CENTIMETERS DECIMETERS
RF=1/5
6
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Page 65:-
RF = 1.5 cm/ 1 dm
= 1.5/ (1 X 10) (1 dm = 10 cm)
= 3/20.
Max Length (ML) = 10 dm (1 m =10 dm) ;( no. of parts of scale (n) =10 parts)
The length of the line that is drawn on the drawing sheet is 15 cm.
6 dm
10 6 3 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
CENTIMETERS DECIMETERS
RF=3/20
7
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Page 65:-
Q5) Draw a scale of 1:50 showing meters & decimeters & to measure up to 8 meters.
Show the length of 5.4 m on it.
RF = 1/50
Max Length (ML) = 8 m; (no. of parts of scale (n) =8 parts)
Length of scale (LOS) = RF X ML
5.4 m
10 6 3
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
DECIMETERS METERS
RF=1/50
8
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Page 66:-
6) A 3.2 cm long line represents a length of 4 meters. Extend this line to measure
lengths up to 25 meters and show on it units of meter and 5 meters. Show the
length of 17 meters on this line.
RF = 3.2 cm/ 4 m
= 3.2/ (4 X 100) (1 m = 100 cm)
= 1/125.
The length of the line that is drawn on the drawing sheet is 20 cm.
17 m
5 3 1 0 5 10 15 20
5 METERS
1 METER
RF=1/125
9
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Page 67:-
27) A room of 1728 m3 volume is shown by a cube of 216 cm3 volume. Find the RF &
Construct a plain scale to measure up to 42 m. Mark a distance of 22m on this scale
RF
= 3 (216) cm3/ (1728 x (100)3) cm3
= 1/200.
The length of the line that is drawn on the drawing sheet is 21 cm.
22 m
6 3 1
0 6 12 18 24 30 36
1 METER 6 METERS
RF=1/200
10
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Diagonal Scales
Diagonal scales are used for measurement in three units or a unit and its 2 sub units. It
consists of a line (LOS) divided into suitable no. of equal parts (based on Max Length,
ML) & the first part is sub-divided into equal parts just as in plain scales. The only extra
construction is that on the vertical lines of the scale, the third unit or third subdivision is
considered
The zero is placed at the end of 1st main division. Labeling of 0 in main scale is after the
first unit. For the vertical divisions, numbering is from bottom to top as 0,1,2,3…
2) Draw the line of length = LOS & divide it into n equal parts based on
ML. Draw a rectangle on LOS of height 5 cm.
3) Divide the first division also into some equal parts based on the unit
and its sub-unit given in the problem & number them as 1,2,3…
4) Divide the vertical height also into equal parts depending on the
relation between the 2 sub units (Usually 10 parts) & number as
0,1,2,3,…from bottom to top.
5) Join point 9 of first sub division to the point 10 of the vertical division.
The line is inclined and to this draw parallel lines from points 8, 7,
6…up to 0 on the first part sub division.
2. 35 main units
10 8 6 4 2 0 1 2 3
11
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Page 65:-
Q4) Draw a diagonal scale of RF = 3/100, showing meters, decimeters & centimeters & to
measure up to 5 meters. Show the length of 3.69 meters on it.
RF = 3/100
Max Length (ML) = 5 m; (no. of parts of scale (n) =5 parts)
Length of scale (LOS) = RF X ML
3.69 m
10
8
CENTIMETERS
0
10 6 3 0 4
1 2 3
DECIMETERS METERS
RF=1/50
12
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Page 66:-
Q7) Construct a diagonal scale of RF = 1/6250 to read up to 1 kilometer and to read meters on
it. Show a length of 653 meters on it.
RF = 1/6250
Max Length (ML) = 1000 m (1 km = 1000 m) (10 x 100)
No. of parts of scale (n) = 10 parts (each of 100 meters)
Length of scale (LOS) = RF X ML
653 m
10
8
1 METER
0
100 50 20 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900
RF=1/6250
13
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Page 66:-
Q9) An area of 144 sq cm on a map represents an area of 36 sq km on the field. Find the RF
of the scale for this map and draw a diagonal scale to show kilometers, hectameters and
decameters and to measure up to 10 kilometers. Indicate on the scale a distance of 7
kilometers, 5 hectameters and 6 decameters.
7km 5 hm 6 dm
10
8
DECAMETERS
0
10 5 2 0 1 2 4 5 6 7 8 9
HECTAMETERS KILOMETERS
RF=1/50000
14
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Page 66:-
Q8) On a map, the distance between two points is 14 cm. The real distance between them is
20 km. Draw a diagonal scale of this map to read kilometers and hectameters, & to
measure up to 25 km. Show a distance of 17.6 km on this scale.
The sub unit is divided into 5 parts so that each division represents 1 km. The
vertical sub-sub unit is hectameter and it is divided into 10 parts as 1 km = 10 hm.
17.6 km
10
8
HECTAMETERS
0
5 4 3 2 1 0 20
5 10 15
1 KILOMETER 5 KILOMETERS
RF=7/1000000
15
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Page 67:-
11.14 m
6.48 m
10
8
CENTIMETERS
0
10 5 2 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
DECIMETERS METERS
RF=1/50
16
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Vernier Scales
Î Vernier scales are used for measurement in three units or a unit and its 2 sub
units.
Î (i) It consists of a line (length=LOS) divided into suitable no. of equal parts
(Based on Max Length, ML).
Î (ii) (a) The first part is sub-divided into equal parts just as in plain scales.
(b) Also, the main scale has to be divided into minor equal parts
(usually of 10 parts) to measure the lengths in first decimal or 10’s
place.
Î (iii) The only extra construction is that above the first sub-division, a separate
Vernier scale is drawn which is used for measuring the sub-sub-units.
Steps:
1) Find the RF, ML & LOS. Draw the scale &mark the divisions of plain scale and
sub scale (all these steps are same as in plain scales).
2) On every main scale, divide into equal sub divisions between 0-1, 1-2, 2-3 & give
the numbering accordingly.
10 8 6 3 0 1 2 3
Observe that all main divisions are again sub-divided into 10 equal parts so
that measurements like 0.5, 1.8, 2.7, etc can be made on main scale itself.
This is not done in plain scales or diagonal scales but only in vernier scales.
17
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Vernier Scales…Steps..Continued…
3) Now after the main scale and sub scale divisions have been completed, we have to
draw the vernier scale on the top of the first sub-division between 10 & 0.
4) Let the length of each division of AO be x. Above the first sub-division AO,
extend the line by x & draw a box BO of 5 mm height & of length = AO + x.
B O
Vernier scale of length = 11parts (x part
extra) which is sub divided into 10 equal
parts to get the vernier scale readings.
x
x
A O 3
1 2
10 8 6 3 0
5) Now BO should be divided into 10 equal parts to get the vernier scale.
Each division on this vernier scale = (BO)/10 = (AO+x)/10 = (10+1)/10= 1.1 sub units or
11 sub-sub-units. (E.g.: if meters, decimeters & centimeters are the units considered in
the problem, then each Vernier scale reading will be multiples of 11 cm or 1.1 dm
Main scale
10 8 6 3 1 0 1 2 3
18
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Î As the vernier scale reading consists of multiples of 11, subtract the multiple of
11 from the main scale reading which has the same last digit.
Since 4 is the last digit, subtract 0.44 from it. Hence 2.64=0.44+2.20.
19
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Exercise Problems
Page 67:-
21) Construct a scale of R.F = 1/(2.5) to show decimeters & centimeters and by a
vernier to read millimeters, to measure up to 4 decimeters. Show on it lengths
2.34 dm, 1.42 dm & 0.38 dm.
RF = 1/125.
Max Length (ML) = 4 dm; (no. of parts of scale (n) =4 parts, each is 1 dm)
The length of the line that is drawn on the drawing sheet is 16 cm & divided into 4 parts.
The sub scale is to be divided into 10 parts & vernier scale also into 10 parts.
The lengths are 2.34 (0.44, 1.90), 1.42 (0.22, 1.20) & 0.38 (0.88, -0.50)
(VSD, MSD) (VSD, MSD) (VSD, MSD)
2.34 dm PQ = 0. 38 dm
RF = 1 / 2. 5
MILLIMETERS 1.42 dm
110 88 55 33 11 0
10 8 6 4 2 0 1 2 3
Q P
CENTIMETERS DECIMETERS
20
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Exercise Problems
Page 67:-
Max Length (ML) = 400 m; (no. of parts of scale (n) =4 parts, each is 100 m)
The length of the line that is drawn on the drawing sheet is 12 cm & divided into 4 parts.
The sub scale is to be divided into 10 parts & vernier scale also into 10 parts.
The length is 349 m (99+ 250); 99 on vernier scale & 250 on main scale.
(VSD, MSD)
349 m
110 88 55 33 11 0
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