This map shows contours of the water table and the location of a factory that contaminated the groundwater.Which way will the contamination flow?
A)Northwest,up the contours
B)Southwest,parallel to the contours
C)Southeast,down the contours
D)No direction because the movement of contamination is independent of groundwater

Question

This map shows contours of the water table and the location of a factory that contaminated the groundwater.Which way will the contamination flow? 
A)Northwest,up the contours 
B)Southwest,parallel to the contours 
C)Southeast,down the contours 
D)No direction because the movement of contamination is independent of groundwater

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The contamination will flow southeast, down the contours, because water moves from areas of higher elevation to lower elevation. Since the contours indicate the shape of the water table, with lines closer together indicating areas of higher elevation and lines farther apart indicating areas of lower elevation, the contamination will move in the direction of the steepest gradient, which is downhill along the contours.

This Map Shows Contours of the Water Table and the Location