AP Human Geo Exam Vocab

Absolute Location

The exact spot on Earth using coordinates (like 40°N, 74°W).

Relative Location

Where a place is compared to other places (e.g., 'next to the park').

Longitude

Lines used to measure absolute location that run north-south.

Latitude

Lines used to measure absolute location that run east-west.

Site

The physical characteristics of a place (e.g., soil, water, climate).

Situation

A place’s location in relation to other places (e.g., near a major highway or port).

Topography

The shape of the land (hills, valleys, elevation, etc.).

Map Distortion

When a map changes shape, size, distance, or direction because Earth is round and maps are flat.

Mercator Projection

Good for direction; distorts size (Greenland looks huge).

Robinson Projection

Balances distortion; nothing is perfect, but everything is decent.

Choropleth Map

Uses colors or shades to show value differences.

Remote Sensing

Collecting data from far away—usually satellites taking pictures.

Sense of Place

How people feel about and connect with a location.

Cultural Landscape

What humans have built or changed (buildings, roads, farms).

Environmental Determinism

The idea that nature controls human behavior (now mostly rejected).

Migration Pull Factors

Things that attract people to a new place (e.g., jobs, safety, schools).

Migration Push Factors

Things that force people to leave (e.g., war, disaster, poverty).

Demographic Transition Model (DTM)

Shows population change over time based on birth and death rates (5 stages).

Crude Birth Rate (CBR)

Number of births per 1,000 people in a year.

Crude Death Rate (CDR)

Number of deaths per 1,000 people in a year.

Rate of Natural Increase (RNI)

Birth rate minus death rate, showing population growth without migration.

Total Fertility Rate (TFR)

Average number of children a woman will have.

Infant Mortality Rate (IMR)

Babies who die before turning 1, per 1,000 live births.

Neoliberalism

Belief in free markets and reduced government involvement.

Urbanization

People moving to cities, cities growing.

Gentrification

Wealthier people move into poor neighborhoods, raising rent and changing the area.

Centrifugal Forces

Divide a country (e.g., conflict, separate languages).

Centripetal Forces

Unite a country (e.g., common language or national pride).