AP Human Geography Unit 1: Map Projections and Spatial Data

Vocabulary flashcards focused on map projections, cartograms, and geographic distortion concepts from the AP Human Geography Unit 1 Assessment material.

Cartogram

A thematic map type that scales geographic units in proportion to a statistical variable, such as population, rather than physical area.

Map Projection Distortion

The inevitable alteration or inaccuracy of area, shape, distance, or direction that occurs when transferring the spherical surface of the Earth onto a flat two-dimensional map.

Mercator Projection

A map projection identified in AP Human Geography assessments that distorts the size of land areas, particularly near the polar regions.

Robinson Projection

A compromise map projection mentioned in geographic assessments that visually balances distortions of shape, area, distance, and direction.

Homolosine Projection

An interrupted, equal-area map projection featured in assessment options that preserves the accurate relative size of landmasses.

Planar Projection

A map projection constructed by projecting geometric points on the globe onto a flat tangent plane, typically featuring diverging lines at the poles.

Gnomonic Projection

A planar map projection option that displays all great circles as straight line segments.