1.2 - 1.5 AP Human Geo Quiz

GPS (Global Positioning System )

Pinpoints exact absolute coordinates/ location using satellites (Example: Google Maps navigation).

GIS (Geographic Information System)

Computer software that layers map data on top of each other (Example: Overlaying crime rates + income levels on one map).

Remote Sensing vs Aerial Photography

Remote sensing collects data from satellites (Example: Deforestation, tracking hurricanes). Aerial photography collects data from planes.

Quantitative Data

Numbers and statistics that can be measured / replicated (Examples: GDP, US Census population counts).

Qualitative Data

Words, descriptions, and opinions (Examples: Interviews, surveys, debates, field notes on how people feel).

Environmental Determinism

Old belief that the physical environment strictly dictates/ forces human culture and success

Environmental Possiblism

Modern belief that humans use technology/ culture to overcome environment limits (Examples: Dams in Las Vegas, water management in the Netherlands).

Distance Decay

The further away two places are, the less interaction they have (Examples: Weak phone signal far from a cell tower, less likely to visit a restaurant 40 miles away).

Time Space Convergence / Compression

Technology and modern transport reduce the feeling of distance (Example: Flying across the ocean in hours or texting globally instantly)

Toponym

A place name given to a feature on Earth (Examples: MT. Denali, Iceland, San Francisco)

Site vs Situation

Site = physical characteristics of a place (climate, terrain, fog). Situation = location relative to other places/ networks (near roads, Pacific Ocean).

Sense of Place vs Placelessness

Sense of Place = strong emotional attachment/ identity to a unique spot (Example: “My house”). Placelessness = loss of uniqueness where everything looks identical.

Distribution Patterns (Dispersed, Clustered, Linear)

Dispersed = spread out evenly/ far apart. Clustered = bunched together in a group. Linear = arranged in a straight line along a road/ river

Sustainability

Using resources today in a way that ensures they remain available for future generations

Geographic Scales of Analysis

Local = town mayor building a hospital. Regional = unemployment in Midwest. National = country-level factory layout. Global = international trade routes.

Formal Region (Uniform)

Area defined by a shared measurable trait throughout (Examples: State of California, language zones).

Functional Region (Nodal).

Area organized around a focal point or node (Examples: Radio Station broadcast tower, pizza delivery zone, subway system).

Perceptual Region ( Vernacular)

Area based on informal feelings, stereotypes, or cultural identity (Example: “The South”).