Unit 1 Study Guide - Thinking Geographically & Development

Flashcards covering key geographic concepts, maps, geospatial technologies, spatial patterns, regions, scales of analysis, and economic development theories from the AP Human Geography Unit 1 & Development study guide.

What are four common types of reference maps?

Physical maps, political maps, topographic maps, and road maps.

What are five common types of thematic maps?

Choropleth maps, dot density maps, isoline maps, graduated symbol maps, and cartograms.

How do absolute direction and relative direction differ?

Absolute direction relies on fixed cardinal points (North, South, East, West), whereas relative direction relies on contextual or subjective terms like "left," "right," or "out West."

How do absolute distance and relative distance differ?

Absolute distance is measured using exact spatial units like miles or kilometers, whereas relative distance is measured in terms of time, cost, or degree of connectivity.

What type of map is best suited for showing elevation?

Topographic maps (or isoline maps with contour lines).

What are the three primary spatial patterns represented on maps?

Clustered (grouped closely together), dispersed (spread out), and linear (arranged in a line).

How does map scale relate to the amount of detail shown?

A large scale map shows a small geographic area with a large amount of detail, whereas a small scale map shows a large geographic area with a small amount of detail.

Why do all flat maps have some kind of distortion?

Because the Earth is a three-dimensional sphere, projecting its curved surface onto a two-dimensional flat map inevitably distorts at least one spatial property (shape, area, distance, or direction).

What spatial properties does the Mercator map projection preserve and distort?

It preserves shape and direction, but distorts land area size, particularly near the poles. Its main purpose is marine navigation.

What is the main characteristic and purpose of the Peters (Gall-Peters) map projection?

It preserves land area size (equal area) while distorting shape (landmasses appear vertically stretched); its purpose is to show the true relative physical size of continents.

What are the trade-offs of the Goode Homolosine map projection?

It preserves land area and minimizes shape distortion, but distorts distance and direction due to interruptions (cuts in ocean regions).

What defines a Robinson map projection?

It is a compromise projection that distorts shape, area, distance, and direction slightly to create a visually balanced and appealing world map.

What is the primary purpose and characteristic of a Polar map projection?

It preserves direction and distance along lines radiating from the central pole, but distorts shape and area toward the edges; it is primarily used for polar airline navigation.

How frequently is the United States Census taken?

Every 10 years.

How do governments, businesses, and individuals utilize census data?

Governments use census data for congressional redistricting and federal funding allocations; businesses use it to analyze demographic markets and select store sites; individuals use it to research local community demographics.

What is Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and what is a real-world application?

GIS is a computer system that captures, stores, and overlays multiple layers of spatial data; it is used for urban planning, disaster response, and transportation mapping.

What is Geographic Positioning System (GPS) and what is a real-world application?

GPS is a satellite network determining exact absolute location coordinates; it is used for real-time vehicular navigation and field surveying.

What is Remote Sensing and how is it used?

Remote sensing gathers data about Earth's surface from sensors on satellites or aircraft; it is used to track deforestation, monitor crop health, and analyze land-use changes.

What is the difference between absolute location and relative location?

Absolute location is an exact spot on Earth defined by coordinates or a street address, whereas relative location describes a place in relation to nearby features or landmarks.

How do place and space differ in geographic terms?

Place refers to a specific point on Earth defined by human and physical characteristics, whereas space refers to the physical gap or distance between objects or locations.

What spatial concept based on Tobler's First Law of Geography is illustrated in this diagram?

Distance decay, which states that as the distance between objects increases, the degree of interconnection or interaction decreases.

How does time-space compression work against Tobler's law of distance decay?

Time-space compression uses modern communication and transportation technology to shorten travel and contact time, enabling strong interaction despite large physical distances.

What are two key components of sustainability?

Environmental stewardship (conserving natural resources) and meeting present human needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs.

What is the difference between environmental determinism and possibilism?

Environmental determinism asserts that the physical environment strictly shapes and limits human development, while possibilism asserts that while the environment sets limits, humans can adapt and overcome them through technology and culture.

What is the difference between scale and scale of analysis?

Scale is the physical scope or ratio of map distance to ground distance, whereas scale of analysis refers to how data is organized and aggregated (global, regional, national, or local).

What scale of analysis is shown in this map of Asian ethnic neighborhoods in Los Angeles County?

Local scale of analysis (analyzing neighborhood data within a single county).

Why is it important to analyze geographic data at different scales?

Patterns and processes vary across scales; broad trends visible at global or national scales can conceal local disparities and inequalities.

How does shifting the scale of analysis in this Ebola outbreak map change perception of the issue?

Shifting from a broad regional scale (West Africa) to a national/local scale reveals that Ebola cases were concentrated in specific countries (Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia) rather than being uniformly severe across all of West Africa.

What defines a formal (uniform) region?

An area where everyone or everything shares one or more distinct, uniform physical or cultural characteristics across the entire space.

What defines a functional (nodal) region?

An area organized around a central node or focal point connected by transportation, communication, or economic activity.

What defines a perceptual (vernacular) region?

An area defined by people's subjective perceptions, attitudes, and mental maps rather than precise objective boundaries.

What type of region is illustrated by this map of the Bible Belt?

A perceptual (vernacular) region.

What type of region is illustrated by this transit diagram of the New York City Subway System?

A functional (nodal) region.

What three factors are used to calculate the Human Development Index (HDI)?

1. Standard of living (GNI per capita), 2. A long and healthy life (life expectancy at birth), and 3. Access to knowledge (expected and mean years of schooling).

Does an HDI score of 0.98 or 0.30 reflect higher economic and social development?

An HDI score of 0.98 reflects higher economic and social development because HDI is scored on a scale from 0.0 to 1.0, with values closer to 1.0 representing higher development.

What is the difference between Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and Gross National Income (GNI)?

GDP measures the total value of goods and services produced strictly within a country's borders, whereas GNI includes GDP plus income earned abroad by citizens and corporations minus payments made to foreign entities.

What three factors are measured in the Gender Inequality Index (GII)?

1. Reproductive health (maternal mortality ratio and adolescent birth rate), 2. Empowerment (share of parliamentary seats and secondary education attainment), and 3. Labor market participation.

How can a country have a high HDI score but also a high GII score?

A country can have high overall economic wealth, schooling, and life expectancy (yielding a high HDI), but still exhibit significant gender disparities in political representation, workforce participation, or maternal healthcare (yielding a high GII score).

What are the five stages of Rostow's Stages of Economic Growth model?

1. Traditional Society, 2. Preconditions for Takeoff, 3. Takeoff, 4. Drive to Maturity, and 5. Age of Mass Consumption.

What three economic categories of countries make up Wallerstein's World System Theory?

Core (high income, advanced technology, exploits periphery), Semiperiphery (intermediate development, industrializing), and Periphery (low income, raw material provider, exploited by core).

What does Wallerstein's World System Theory take into account that Rostow's model does not?

Wallerstein accounts for global interdependence, international trade networks, and historical exploitation/colonialism, whereas Rostow assumes each country develops independently in linear stages.

Why does Dependency Theory argue that economic wealth is imbalanced globally?

It argues that Less Developed Countries (LDCs) remain impoverished because More Developed Countries (MDCs) historically and continually exploit their resources and labor, maintaining structural dependency.

How do female education, marriage age, and fertility rates differ between MDCs and LDCs?

In MDCs, female education rates are high, women marry at an older age, and fertility rates are low. In LDCs, female education rates are low, women marry at a younger age, and fertility rates are high.

How does female economic participation differ between MDCs and LDCs regarding formal vs. informal sectors?

In MDCs, women are more prevalent in the formal sector (e.g., corporate or professional jobs), whereas in LDCs, women are more prevalent in the informal sector (e.g., street vending or unregistered labor).

How do the 'glass ceiling' and the 'motherhood wage penalty' affect women's economic advancement?

The glass ceiling represents an invisible barrier preventing qualified women from reaching executive leadership roles, while the motherhood wage penalty refers to systemic reductions in pay and promotions experienced by working mothers compared to non-mothers and men.