What is Narrow?

S0-SA5-0447

Grade Level:

Pre-School

Physics, Maths, Engineering

Definition

What is it?

Something is 'narrow' when its width is small compared to its length, or when there isn't much space from one side to the other. It means it's thin or has limited space to pass through.

Simple Example

Quick Example

Imagine a gully (small street) in your neighbourhood. If only one bicycle can comfortably pass through it at a time, we say the gully is narrow. If two auto-rickshaws can easily pass side-by-side, it's wide.

Worked Example

Step-by-Step

Let's compare two roads near a school.

Step 1: Road A has a width of 3 meters.
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Step 2: Road B has a width of 10 meters.
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Step 3: To see which is narrower, we compare their widths.
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Step 4: 3 meters is much less than 10 meters.
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Step 5: So, Road A is narrower than Road B.
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Answer: Road A is the narrower road.

Why It Matters

Understanding 'narrow' is key in Physics for designing objects like pipes or wires, in Maths for comparing dimensions, and in Engineering for building bridges or roads. Engineers use this concept to ensure structures are safe and functional, like designing narrow-gauge railway tracks or efficient water channels.

Common Mistakes

MISTAKE: Thinking 'narrow' means short or small in length. | CORRECTION: 'Narrow' refers specifically to the width or breadth, not the length or height.

MISTAKE: Confusing narrow with light weight. | CORRECTION: An object can be heavy but still narrow, like a narrow but very long iron rod. Narrowness is about space across, not weight.

MISTAKE: Believing narrow is always bad. | CORRECTION: Narrow can be useful! A narrow needle helps in stitching, and a narrow lane can be a shortcut for pedestrians.

Practice Questions

Try It Yourself

QUESTION: A pencil box is 5 cm wide. A lunchbox is 12 cm wide. Which one is narrower? | ANSWER: The pencil box is narrower.

QUESTION: A footpath is 1.5 meters wide. A road is 7 meters wide. How much narrower is the footpath than the road? | ANSWER: The footpath is 5.5 meters narrower than the road (7 - 1.5 = 5.5).

QUESTION: You are trying to fit a table through a doorway. The table is 90 cm wide. The doorway is 85 cm wide. Will the table fit? Explain. | ANSWER: No, the table will not fit. The doorway is narrower (85 cm) than the table (90 cm), so there isn't enough space.

MCQ

Quick Quiz

Which of these objects is typically described as 'narrow'?

A cricket ground

A railway track

A football field

A large swimming pool

The Correct Answer Is:

A railway track has a small, fixed width to guide trains, making it narrow. The other options are typically wide open spaces.

Real World Connection

In the Real World

In India, you see narrowness everywhere! The small lanes (galis) in old cities like Varanasi or Jaipur are famous for being narrow. Also, the pipes carrying water to our homes are designed to be narrow enough to fit but wide enough to allow sufficient water flow. Even the tiny SIM card in your mobile phone needs to be narrow to fit into its slot.

Key Vocabulary

Key Terms

WIDTH: The measurement from side to side of something | BREADTH: Another word for width | DIMENSION: A measurable extent of some kind, such as length, breadth, depth, or height | SPACE: The amount of an area, room, or volume that is available or occupied.

What's Next

What to Learn Next

Now that you understand 'narrow', you can explore 'wide' to see the opposite concept. You can also learn about 'length' and 'height' to understand all the basic dimensions of objects around us. Keep observing the world!