GATE EC 2017 Set 2 — Question 65
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General Aptitude → Quantitative Aptitude → 2D & 3D Patterns
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Question
A contour line joins locations having the same height above the mean sea level. The following is a contour plot of a geographical region. Contour lines are shown at intervals in this plot.
Which of the following is the steepest path leaving from P?
Correct answer
(B) P to R
Solution
The steepness of a path on a contour map is determined by the gradient, which is the change in elevation divided by the horizontal distance. On a contour map, the horizontal distance between contour lines represents the steepness; the closer the lines are to each other, the steeper the slope.By examining the paths starting from point P (which is at an elevation of ):
1.Path P to R: This path crosses several contour lines () over the shortest horizontal distance compared to all other paths shown.
2.Path P to Q: This path crosses similar elevation changes but over a significantly longer horizontal distance than path P to R.
3.Path P to S: This path crosses fewer contour lines () over a relatively long distance.
4.Path P to T: This path crosses only the and lines over a long distance.
Since path P to R has the highest density of contour lines (the most change in elevation per unit horizontal distance), it is the steepest path.Continue learning with Success Tracker
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