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A contour line (also known as isopleth) on a topographic map connects points of equal elevation or depth. The steepest way up or down is in the direction perpendicular to the contour line at any given point. This gradient on a topographic map is at its greatest when the lines are close together, thus the slope is steepest.
Note that a contour map does not have to be topographic. Any value mapped in two or three dimensions such as temperature, barometric pressure, or wind speed can have contour lines connecting adjacent points of equal value. Again, moving away from a contour line in a perpendicular direction will yield the greatest change in the value of the quality being recorded.
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How are contour lines shown for a gentle slope?
Contours for a gentle slope are spaced equally and far apart, the closer the contour lines the steeper the slope.
Are contour lines used to indicate horizontal distances or vertical distances on earths surface?
Horizontal
Why are the pages in the Bible in 2 columns?
It is easier to read small, closely spaced print when the lines are not very long. This is also why newspapers are written in columns.
How do contour lines determine which area of an island has the steepest slope?
The closer the contour lines the steeper the slope.
Why do gentle slopes have more widely spaced lines than steep slopes?
Presumably the questions refer to contour lines. If that is the case, the answer is as follows: Contour lines are lines drawn at selected heights on a map. They are lines that join points at the same height above the meas sea level. A gentle slope is one that does not rise (or fall) as rapidly as a steep slope. That is to say, you have to travel a greater horizontal distance to gain (lose) the same amount of vertical distance or height. So, with a gentle slope, you have to travel a greater distance to get from one contour to the next and so the lines are less close together.
