Introduction to Scale 比例介绍

Scale is an important part of geography. The definition of scale according to the dictionary is:

比例是地理中非常重要的一部分，在字典里“比例”的定义如下：

Scale /skeɪl/ 比例 bǐ lì

With a uniform reduction or enlargement. In proportion to the surroundings (of a drawing or model): Example: It is hard to build models to scale from a drawing.

统一的缩小或放大图形，与其实际相应图形的线性尺寸之比。
例句：很难根据图片按比例制作模型。

Scale is easy to calculate using the metric measuring system. Metric measurements are used by most countries around the world. The Metric System is very easy to use.  As you move up and down the scale you simply move the decimal place. Look at the Measurement scale for the Metric measuring systems. The 4 most commonly used measurements are shown in RED.

很多国家都使用公制度量衡，用公制度量衡单位来计算比例是非常简单的，当你想增大或减小比例只要变动一下小数位就行了。在美国使用的是英制度量衡体系，加拿大由于跟美国关系密切所以两种度量衡体系都使用。英制体系要更为复杂一些，因为在换算比例时小数和不规则的间隔很多。

Metric Measurements 公制度量衡单位

Kilometer	/ˈkɪləʊˌmiːtə/	qiān mǐ	千米	1,000
Hectometer	/ˈhektə ˈmiːtə/	bǎi mǐ	百米	100
Decameter	/ˈdekə ˈmiːtə/	shí mǐ	十米	10
Meter	/ˈmiːtə/	mǐ	米	1
Decimeter	/ˈdesəˈmiːtə/	fēn mǐ	分米	0.1
Centimeter	/ˈsentɪ ˈmiːtə/	lí mǐ	厘米	0.01
Millimeter	/ˈmiləˈmiːtə/	háo mǐ	毫米	0.001
Micrometer	/maɪˈkrɒmɪtə/	wēi mǐ	微米	0.000,001
Nanometer	/nænəʊˈmiːtə/	nà mǐ	纳米	0.000,000,001

Determining Scale 计算比例

The formula for determining scale is simple. However remember that you might need to convert numbers to the same unit of measurement. Converting Metric Units of measurements only requires moving the decimal place, where converting Imperial units will be more complicated. 

确定比例的公式非常的简单，但是要注意单位的统一。公制度量衡体系只需移动小数点位置就可以了，而英制度量衡则要复杂多了。

to calculate scale you must know the following:
在计算比例时需了解以下：
S = Scale  比例
AS = Actual Size  实际大小
MS = Model Size  模型大小

Scale = Actual Size / Model Size
比例 = 实际大小 / 模型大小

Example  例

A model car that you bought is 20centimeters long. The car is 3 meters long in real life. What is the correct scale of the car model?

你购买的模型车长20厘米，而该车的时间长度是3米,那么该模型车的比例是多少？

Step 1: Covert meters to centimeters
第一步：把米转化成厘米

3 meters = 300 centimeters
3米 = 300厘米

Step 2: Calculate scale
第二步：计算比例
Scale 比例 = 300 / 20 
Scale 比例 = 15

Therefore 1 centimetre on the model is equivalent to 15 centimetres on the real car. This is also written as a scale of 1/15

所以该模型的1厘米相当于实际的15厘米，该比例写为1/15。

Using Scale 使用比例

On a map you will be given a scale. You will need to calculate the actual size or distance between objects rather than the size of the map reduction. There are three different types of scales given on a map.

通常一幅地图会给出所用的比例，而你要计算的是实际大小和距离而不是地图上的大小。在地图上有3种表示比例的方法。

1. Written Scale 文字比例
1cm = 100km

2. Representative Fraction 数字比例
1: 1,000,000

3. Graphic Scales 图表比例

To determine the actual size rewrite the scale formula as follows: Actual Size = Scale X Model Size
计算实际大小方式如下：实际大小 = 比例 X 模型大小

Example 例

The scale of a map is 1cm is equal to 50km. You measure the distance between two points and the measurement on the map is 2.5 cm. What is the actual distance between the two points?

一幅地图比例是1cm相当于实际的50km，在地图上你测量两点之间距离的结果是2.5cm,那么该两点之间的实际距离是多少？

Use a ruler to measure the distance between the indicated cities on the chart. Record the distance at the reduced scale of the map. Then using math calculate how far apart the actually cities are. Measure to the nearest Millimeter. Make sure you measure from the center of one city marker to the center of the other city marker.

使用直尺测量下图城市之间的距离，并把所测量的结果记录入下表，然后根据比例计算公式计算出实际距离。测量结果保留到毫米。测量时注意从一个城市城标的正中心到另一个城市城标的正中心。

1. What city is the furthest North? How far is it from the next closest city?
   哪个城市位于最北？离它最近的城市有多远？
   
2. If you took a plane from Ottawa to Thunder Bay, then to Churchill, and finally to Alert, how far would you have flown?
   如果你坐飞机从 Ottawa到 Thunder Bay，然后再到 Churchill，最后到 Alert，那么你总共飞了多远？
   
3. If each time the plane lands it takes half an hour to refuel, and the plane travels at 280 Kilometers per hour, how long would the trip take?
   如果每次飞机降落需要半个小时补给燃料，每小时飞行速度是280千米的话，那么这次旅行需要多长时间？

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