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A contour line defines the outline of a form, as well as interior structure, without the use of shading. A fundamental basis of drawing, contour lines are usually the first technique children adopt to draw people, houses, and trees.
What is the main purpose of contour lines?
Contour lines are lines drawn on a map with equal elevation points, so elevation would be constant if you followed the contour line physically. The elevation and terrain shape of the contour lines shows. It is useful because they show the form of the land surface on the map–its topography.
What is a contour line in art for kids?
A contour drawing is a line drawing. Lines define every edge of an object with no shading. Kids naturally draw outline type drawings because they are the simplest form of drawing.
What are contour lines examples?
In cartography, a contour line (often just called a “contour”) joins points of equal elevation (height) above a given level, such as mean sea level. A contour map is a map illustrated with contour lines, for example a topographic map, which thus shows valleys and hills, and the steepness or gentleness of slopes.
How do you describe contours?
Definition: Contours are a collection of lines found on maps that show mountains, valleys and landforms. Contours are measured from sea level. If contours are closely spaced, it means that the land is very steep, if the contours are widely spaced, it means the land is more flat.
What are the 3 types of contour drawing?
There are several different types of contour line drawings: Blind Contour. ‘Blind contour drawing’ is when contour drawing is done without looking at the paper AT ALL. Continuous Line Contour. Modified Contour. cross-contour. YOUR ASSIGNMENTS:.
What is an example of a contour drawing?
Contour line art is also a good way to become more skilled at replicating the outline of an object and developing hand-eye coordination (which we’ll explain more about in the next section). The image on the left is an example of contour line art. The image on the right is NOT because it includes shading.
What artist uses contour lines?
Some famous artists who have used contour drawing include Alexander Calder, Egon Schiele, and many more. All you need is a pencil and some paper! Any size paper will do, but sometimes bigger is easier at first.
What is the other name of contour lines?
What is another word for contour lines? contours hachures isoheights isohypses isolines.
What is the difference between an outline and contour line?
As nouns the difference between contour and outline is that contour is an outline, boundary or border, usually of curved shape while outline is a line marking the boundary of an object figure.
How do contour lines determine elevation?
You can figure out the elevation of any point by finding the nearest labeled line, counting the number of lines above or below it, multiplying by the contour interval, and adding or subtracting the result from the nearest marked contour line. The more closely spaced the contour lines, the steeper the slope.
What are the 5 Rules of contour lines?
Rule 1 – every point of a contour line has the same elevation. Rule 2 – contour lines separate uphill from downhill. Rule 3 – contour lines do not touch or cross each other except at a cliff. Rule 4 – every 5th contour line is darker in color.
What is the distance between each contour line called?
The elevation difference between two adjacent contour lines is called the contour interval (CI). Usually the contour interval is noted on the map legend. In most topographic maps every 5th contour line is drawn in bold print or wider than other contours. Such lines are called index contour lines.
What is a contour line in social?
or contour line, line on a topographic map connecting points of equal elevation above or below mean sea level. It is thus a kind of isopleth, or line of equal quantity. They may be visualized as representing shorelines if sea level were raised in small increments.
Who invented contour lines?
But as with most things in this human-built world, contour lines had to be invented. Their origins lie with Charles Hutton, a British mathematician whose ambitious 1774 survey of a Scottish peak called Schiehallion marked their first known use.
What are the characteristics of a contour line?
Characteristics of Contours Must close on themselves, on or off the map. Perpendicular to the direction of max. Slope between them is assumed uniform. The distance between them indicates the steepness of the slope, gentle or steep. Irregular signify rough, smooth signify gradual slopes.
What three things does a contour line outline?
Shape, Movement, and Direction.
Why do contour lines never cross?
Contour lines never cross. They may come very close to each other (e.g. along a cliff), but by definition they may never cross each other. * This is because one location on the surface of Earth cannot be at two different elevations!.
What are the darker contour lines known as?
The darker lines are called index contours. Instead of trying to label every line with a number, which could result in a jumbled and confusing diagram, only certain lines are labeled. The number representing each index contour should increase in equal increments.
What are depression contours?
A closed contour, inside of which the ground or geologic structure is at a lower elevation than that outside, and distinguished on a map from other contour lines by hachures marked on the downslope or downdip side.
How do you read contour drawings?
How To Read Contour Lines Index lines are the thickest contour lines and are usually labeled with a number at one point along the line. Intermediate lines are the thinner, more common, lines between the index lines. Supplementary lines appear as dotted lines, indicating flatter terrain.
What is every 5th contour line called?
To make topographic maps easier to read, every fifth contour line is an index contour. The index contour lines are the only ones labeled. The index contours are a darker or wider line in comparison to the regular contour lines. Elevations are marked on the index contour lines only.
