How to work with slopes and
gradients
Department of Geography
GGH1501
Compiled by Mnr C Hamann and adapted from a PowerPoint slide originally developed for second year
students by Mnr AC Vlok and Mnr J Immelman
, Why do we need to know about
slopes and gradients?
• To plan the routes of roads and railway lines over and
around mountains
• To know where we need to put up warning signs for heavy
vehicles to engage to lower gears.
• To prevent erosion by identifying areas that are too steep
for cultivation
• To know how you should lay the paving in the back yard
so that rain water drains into the garden and not into the
kitchen
gradients
Department of Geography
GGH1501
Compiled by Mnr C Hamann and adapted from a PowerPoint slide originally developed for second year
students by Mnr AC Vlok and Mnr J Immelman
, Why do we need to know about
slopes and gradients?
• To plan the routes of roads and railway lines over and
around mountains
• To know where we need to put up warning signs for heavy
vehicles to engage to lower gears.
• To prevent erosion by identifying areas that are too steep
for cultivation
• To know how you should lay the paving in the back yard
so that rain water drains into the garden and not into the
kitchen
