Grade 8 Socials Notes

Social Studies 8
Final Exam Notes

Geography:
Scales
The scale of a map can be represented in 3 ways:
1. Direct Statement
- Ex. 1cm represents 1 km
- 1cm:1km
- 1cm = 1 km  WRONG
• Does not “equal” 1 km, represents it.
2. Linear Scale
- A line is marked off in units that correspond to definite distances on the ground. Ex-

200m 100m 0m 100 m 200m
3. Representative Fraction (RF)
- The ratio of unit distance on the map, to the number of similar units on the ground.
• Ex. 1:25000

Scale Conversions:
Direct Statement  Representative Fraction
- Move decimal 5 spaces to the right
Representative Fraction  Direct Statement
- Move decimal 5 spaces to the left

Direction

North- 0 degrees North/East- 45 degrees
East- 90 degrees South/East- 135 degrees
South- 180 degrees South/West- 225 degrees
West- 270 degrees North/West- 315 degrees

Position and Location
1. Latitude
- Angular distance north or south of the equator
• Aka. “Parallels” of Latitude 
2. Longitude
- Angular distance west or east of the Prime Meridian
• Aka. “Meridians” of Longitude 

3. Important lines of Latitude and Longitude
- Arctic Circle
• 66.5° N Latitude
- Tropic of Cancer
• 23.5° N latitude; June 21st, the sun is directly perpendicular to the earth’s surface at 23.5° north
- Equator
• 0° latitude
- Tropic of Capricorn
• 23.5° S latitude; December 21st sun is perpendicular to the Tropic of Capricorn.
- Antarctic Circle
• 66.5° S latitude
- International Date Line
• About 180° longitude
- Prime Meridian
• 0° longitude

Labeling Maps
1. How to label maps
- Should have title and key
- Locations should be as accurate as possible
- Human features : names should be parallel to the base of the map when possible, cities should be represented with a dot
- Rivers: should be printed on the line representing