Map and Route Analysis Flashcards
7 cards from real NFST practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Map and Route Analysis flashcards as text
When navigating with a compass and map, 'declination' refers to:
Answer: The angular difference between true north and magnetic north
Magnetic declination is the angle between geographic true north and the magnetic north indicated by a compass needle.
On a topographic map, an index contour line differs from intermediate contour lines in that it is:
Answer: Drawn as a heavier, bolder line and labeled with its elevation
Index contours are thicker, bolder lines labeled with their elevation value to make reading the map easier.
You are planning a route and want to avoid a slope steeper than 30%. On a 1:24,000 map with a 40-foot contour interval, which horizontal distance between adjacent contour lines would indicate exactly 30% grade?
Answer: About 133 feet apart on the ground
A 30% grade means 30 feet of rise per 100 feet of horizontal distance; 40 ft ÷ 0.30 ≈ 133 feet horizontal between contours.
A saddle on a topographic map appears as:
Answer: Two closely spaced summit loops connected by widely spaced contours between them
A saddle is a low point between two high points, appearing on maps as two summit loops with spreading contours in the pass between them.
Which of the following best describes 'back azimuth' in land navigation?
Answer: The azimuth from your destination back to your starting point
A back azimuth is the reverse direction of a given azimuth, calculated by adding or subtracting 180°, used to retrace a route.
When analyzing a route for resupply needs, which map feature is most useful for identifying potential water sources?
Answer: Blue lines and symbols
Blue lines and symbols on topographic maps represent water features including streams, rivers, lakes, and springs.
To estimate travel time on a route with significant elevation gain, planners commonly use Naismith's Rule, which adds extra time for every:
Answer: 100 feet of elevation gained
Naismith's Rule adds approximately 1 minute of extra travel time for every 100 feet (or 30 meters) of elevation gained.