AP Human Study First Unit

Absolute Location

The exact position of a place on Earth’s surface, usually in latitude/longitude. Example: Paris at 48.8566° N, 2.3522° E.

Cartographer

A person who makes maps. Example: Gerardus Mercator created the Mercator projection.

Census

An official count of a population. Example: U.S. Census every 10 years.

Core

The most developed, powerful area of a region. Example: The U.S. and Western Europe.

Density

Number of things or people in an area. Example: NYC has ~27,000 people per square mile.

Dispersed

Spread out objects or people. Example: Rural farms in the Midwest.

Distance Decay

Interaction decreases with distance. Example: Less likely to drive 100 miles for groceries.

Distribute

Arrangement of something across Earth. Example: Spanish language in South America.

Ecological Perspective

Viewing human-environment relationships. Example: Deforestation in the Amazon.

Elevation

Height above sea level. Example: Denver is 5,280 ft above sea level.

Environmental Determinism

Idea that environment shapes culture. Example: Ancient river valley civilizations.

Flow

Movement of people, goods, or ideas. Example: Spread of TikTok trends worldwide.

Friction of Distance

Distance requires time/effort to overcome. Example: Shopping at a nearby mall instead of one far away.

GIS (Geographic Information Systems)

Computer system for mapping/analyzing spatial data. Example: City planners using GIS for traffic patterns.

GPS (Global Positioning Systems)

Satellite-based system for location. Example: Google Maps navigation.

Globalization

Growing worldwide interconnectedness. Example: McDonald’s in many countries.

Human Geography

Study of human activities and their spatial impact. Example: Studying migration trends.

Human-Environmental Interaction

How people adapt to/modify the environment. Example: Building dams.

Location

Position on Earth’s surface. Example: The White House in Washington, D.C.

Mental Map

Personal perception of space. Example: Knowing your route to school.

Model

Simplified representation of reality. Example: Demographic Transition Model.

Natural Resource

Material from nature humans use. Example: Coal or fresh water.

Node

Central point of connection. Example: Atlanta as a Delta Airlines hub.

Non-renewable Resource

Resource that can’t be replaced quickly. Example: Oil and coal.

Pattern

Spatial arrangement of objects. Example: Grid street layout in NYC.

Periphery

Less-developed, dependent regions. Example: Sub-Saharan Africa.

Physical Geography

Study of Earth’s natural features. Example: Climate and landforms.

Place

Location with unique characteristics. Example: Times Square.

Possibilism

Humans adapt/modify environment. Example: Air conditioning in hot regions.

Qualitative Data

Descriptive, non-numeric data. Example: Interviews about neighborhood safety.

Quantitative Data

Numeric data. Example: Census population numbers.

Reference Map

General map of places/features. Example: A road atlas.

Region

Area defined by shared traits. Example: The U.S. Midwest.

Relative Location

Position compared to other places. Example: “Two blocks north of the school.”

Remote Sensing

Collecting Earth data via satellite. Example: NASA’s Landsat program.

Renewable Resource

Resource that replenishes naturally. Example: Solar energy.

Scale

Map distance vs. real-world distance. Example: 1:100,000 means 1 cm = 1 km.

Scale of Analysis

Level of geographic study. Example: National vs. local poverty rates.

Semi-Periphery

Middle-developed countries. Example: Brazil, India, or Mexico.

Site

Physical characteristics of a location. Example: New Orleans near the Mississippi River.

Situation

Location relative to others. Example: Singapore along major shipping routes.

Space

Physical gap or distance between objects. Example: Distance between two cities.

Spatial Perspective

Looking at phenomena in terms of where they occur. Example: Studying disease outbreaks geographically.

Spread

How phenomena move across space/time. Example: Spread of smartphones worldwide.

Suburb

Residential areas on the outskirts of cities. Example: Suburbs around Los Angeles.

Sustainability

Meeting current needs without harming future generations. Example: Using renewable energy sources.

Sustainable Development

Development balancing growth, environment, and social needs. Example: Green buildings.

Thematic Map

A map emphasizing a theme or variable. Example: Global population density map.

Theory

System of ideas to explain phenomena. Example: Von Thünen’s agricultural land-use model.

Time-Space Compression

Reduced travel times due to technology. Example: Airplanes and internet shrinking distance.

Topography

Shape and features of Earth’s surface. Example: Mountain ranges in Nepal.

Toponym

Name given to a place. Example: New York named after the Duke of York.

World-Systems Theory

Model dividing countries into core/semi-periphery/periphery. Example: U.S., India, Chad.

Choropleth Map

Map using shades/colors to represent data. Example: U.S. population density map.

Dot Distribution Map

Map using dots to show features. Example: Dot map of COVID-19 cases.

Graduated/Proportional Symbol Map

Map with symbols sized by data values. Example: Larger circles for larger city populations.

Isoline Map

Map with lines connecting equal values. Example: Weather temperature map.

Cartogram

Map distorting size based on data. Example: Countries resized by population.

Small-Scale Map

Shows large area with less detail. Example: World map.

Large-Scale Map

Shows small area with great detail. Example: City street map.

Mercator Projection

Projection preserving shape but distorting size near poles. Example: Traditional world maps.

Robinson Projection

Projection balancing size and shape. Example: National Geographic maps.

Gall-Peters Projection

Preserves area but distorts shape. Example: Emphasizes developing countries’ true size.

Azimuthal Projection

Map showing Earth from a central point (often a pole). Example: UN logo projection.

Global Scale of Analysis

Viewing data at the global level. Example: Global climate change patterns.

World Regional Scale of Analysis

Viewing data by large regions. Example: Comparing North America to Europe.

National Scale of Analysis

Data within one country. Example: U.S. census data.

Local Scale of Analysis

Data in a small area or community. Example: Neighborhood zoning maps.

Formal Region

Area with official boundaries or traits. Example: The state of Texas.

Functional Region

Area organized around a node. Example: A metropolitan area defined by commuting patterns.

Perceptual Region

Region defined by people’s perceptions. Example: “The South” in the U.S.