exam 1 lecture 1

what is geography

to write about earth

toblers first law

“Everything is related to everything else. But near things are more related than distant things.”

what are the subfields of geography

human geography and physical geography

human geography

study of how groups of people relate to each other, their environment, and their places across time, space/location

physical geography

the study of natural environments systems, processes and components in a spatial context- emphasis on humans interrelationship with the environment  

what guides geographers in their investigations?

location, place, human earth interactions, movement, and regions

relative location

based on proximity to features around it

absolute location

exact point (GPS or latitude/longitude)

place

description of location- natural and physical features

human earth relationships

how we live in an environment

movement

motion that occurs (oceanic and atmospheric circulations)

regions

areas that are conformable

physical geography

concerned with earths surficial features, what shaped these features, and how humans related to these processes and characteristics 

physical geology

concerned about how and why the earth does what it does, why it looks the way it does, the insides and outsides, and the processes that change it

the scientific method

It is the organized process by which we investigate questions and come to conclusions based on evidence and date

form a hypothesis

step 2 of scientific method- put forth a logical explanation

a theory

not a prediction of what will happen, but why something happens

make an observation

step 1 of the scientific method- observe nature, ask questions, collect data

experiment and collect data

step 3 of the scientific method- conduct experiments to test hypothesis

report results

step 4 of the scientific method- see if results do or don’t support hypothesis.

peer review

step 5 of scientific method- communicate findings with other scientists

develop a scientific theory

step 6 of scientific method-explanation of why hypothesis was or wasn’t true

what is a system

a set of components that have a particular order or relationship to each other that have a way to transfer energy and matter through the components

open system

a system that receives energy or input from outside the system

closed system

a system that does not receive energy or matter from outside or release energy to the systems 

atmosphere

gaseous envelope surrounding the earth and contains a mixture of gases required to sustain life

lithosphere

earths crustal materials- both consolidated and fragmented

biosphere

earths life forms (plants and animals)

hydrosphere

earths water in all its forms: solid, liquid, and gas