Written by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 examโขWritten by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Definition
In physics, scale refers to the ratio of measurements on a model or diagram to the actual measurements of the object being represented. It allows us to represent objects that are too large or too small to be drawn at their actual size.
Related terms
Proportional Relationship: A proportional relationship exists when two quantities change in direct proportion to each other. For example, if you double one quantity, the other also doubles.
Magnification: Magnification is a measure of how much larger an image appears compared to its actual size. It is commonly used in optics and microscopy.
Map Scale: Map scale refers to the ratio between distances on a map and corresponding distances on Earth's surface. It helps determine how much smaller or larger features are represented on maps compared to reality.