AP Human Geography Unit 1 Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering foundational geographic concepts, scales, spatial patterns, maps, and projections for AP Human Geography Unit 1.

Human Geography

Study of where + why human activities happen.

Physical Geography

Study of where + why natural processes happen.

Geographic scale / scale of analysis

Level where data is being studied.

Map scale

Relationship between map size + real-world size.

Large-scale map

Small area + lots of detail = zoom IN.

Small-scale map

Large area + less detail = zoom OUT.

Global scale of analysis

Globe = whole world.

Regional scale of analysis

Regions = continents/world regions.

National scale of analysis

Nations = countries.

Local scale of analysis

Little = state, county, city, ZIP code.

Distribution

How something is spread over space.

Density

How many things are in an area.

Pattern

How things are arranged in space.

Absolute location

Exact location on Earth.

Relative location

Location compared to another place.

Absolute distance

Exact measured distance between places.

Relative direction

Left, right, forward, backward.

Absolute direction

North, south, east, west.

Place

Location with unique human + physical features.

Site

Physical features of the actual place.

Situation

How a place is connected/located relative to other places.

Distance decay

Farther away = weaker connection.

Time-space compression

Technology makes faraway places feel closer.

Globalization

The world becomes more connected.

Possibilism

Environment limits humans, but humans can adapt.

Environmental determinism

Environment determines how society develops.

Sustainability

Meet needs now without hurting future generations.

Land use

What people use land for: housing, farming, business, etc.

Remote sensing

Collects Earth data from satellites or long distance.

GPS

Finds an exact location on Earth.

GIS

Stores + layers + analyzes geographic data.

Equator

0 degrees latitude; divides North + South.

Latitude

Measures north/south of the Equator.

Prime Meridian

0 degrees longitude; divides East + West.

Longitude

Measures east/west of the Prime Meridian.

Formal region

Area sharing a common feature.

Functional region

Area organized around a node or focal point.

Perceptual / Vernacular region

Area people believe or perceive exists.

Reference map

Shows locations like roads, cities, and borders.

Choropleth map

Areas are shaded different colors based on data.

Dot map

Dots show where something is concentrated.

Proportional / graduated symbol map

Bigger symbol = bigger amount.

Isoline map

Lines connect places with the same value.

Cartogram

Changes the size or shape of places based on data.

Map projection

Method of putting the round Earth onto a flat map.

Mercator projection

Keeps direction accurate, but areas near the poles look too big.

Mercator projection navigation advantage

Direction stays consistent.

Robinson projection

Balanced world map that reduces overall distortion.

Gall-Peters projection

Shows area more accurately, but shapes look distorted.

Important rule about projections

Every flat world map has some distortion.