AP Exam Review

Mercator Projection

A cylindrical map projection that distorts size near the poles but maintains accurate shapes, useful for navigation.

Robinson Projection

A compromise projection that shows continents with less distortion, commonly used in world maps.

Choropleth Map

Maps that use shading to represent data, such as population density.

Isoline Map

Maps that connect points of equal value using lines, commonly seen in weather maps.

Proportional Symbol Map

Maps where symbols of different sizes represent the magnitude of a variable, like circle sizes showing population.

Cartogram

Maps that distort size or shape to show data, such as population information.

GPS

Global Positioning System, a satellite system for determining precise locations on Earth.

GIS

Geographic Information System, used to analyze spatial data and create detailed geographic patterns.

Remote Sensing

The collection of data about Earth's surface using satellite or aerial imagery.

Formal Region (Uniform)

Regions defined by clear boundaries and specific criteria, such as political boundaries.

Functional Region (Nodal)

Regions defined by a central node and its influence, such as metropolitan areas.

Vernacular/perceptual Region

Regions defined by people's perceptions, like 'The South' in the U.S.

Distance Decay

The decrease in interaction as distance increases.

Time-Space Compression

The notion that advances in transportation and communication reduce the effective impact of distance.

Globalization

The increasing interconnectedness of the world.

Environmental Determinism

The belief that the physical environment dictates human behavior.

Possibilism

The idea that humans can adapt and make choices within environmental constraints.

Site

The physical characteristics of a place, such as landforms and climate.

Absolute Location

The exact location of a place defined by coordinates (latitude/longitude).

Relative Location/situation

The position of a place in relation to other locations.

Toponyms

The study of place names and their origins.

Sustainability

The ability to maintain processes long-term, considering environmental, social, and economic factors.

Demographic Transition Model (DTM)

A model explaining the shift from high birth/death rates to low rates as a country develops.

Population Pyramid

Visual representations showing the distribution of age groups in a population, typically by gender.

Epidemiologic Transition Model

Describes changes in causes of death across different stages of the DTM.

Thomas Malthus

Theory that population growth will outstrip resources, leading to famine and poverty.

Total Fertility Rate (TFR)

The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime.

Carrying Capacity

The maximum population that an environment can support.

Dependency Ratios (DTM)

The ratio of the dependent population (children and elderly) to the working-age population.

Pro-Natal Policies (DTM)

Policies encouraging higher birth rates, such as tax breaks and maternity leave.

Anti-Natal Policies (DTM)

Policies aimed at limiting population growth, like China's one-child policy.

Arithmetic Density

Total population divided by total land area.

Physiologic Density

Population per unit of arable land.

Agricultural Density

Number of farmers per unit of arable land.

Ravenstein’s Laws of Migration

Basic principles outlining why and how people migrate, often for economic reasons.

Push Factors (Categories and EX)

Circumstances that drive people away from their current location, like war or famine.

Pull Factors (Categories and EX)

Attractions that draw people to a new location, such as job opportunities.

Refugees

People who flee their home country due to fear of persecution.

Asylum Seekers

Individuals seeking protection in another country.

Rural to Urban Migration

Movement from rural areas to cities(urban), usually for industrial jobs and urbanization.

Step Migration

Migration occurring in stages, often from small towns to larger cities (think about stairs).

Brain Drain

The emigration of skilled workers from a country.

Chain Migration

Migration where individuals follow others to the same destination.

Cultural Traits

Elements that compose a culture, including language, religion, and customs.

Cultural Landscape

The visible imprint of human activity and culture on the landscape.

Sequent Occupance

Successive societies leaving their mark on the landscape over time.

Centripetal Forces

Forces that unite a country or society.

Centrifugal Forces

Forces that divide a country or society.

Relocation Diffusion

Spread of culture through the physical movement of people.

Contagious Diffusion

Spread of ideas through people, such as social media.

Hierarchical Diffusion

Spread starting from larger cities to smaller areas.

Stimulus Diffusion

Spread of an idea that is adapted to fit a new environment.

Acculturation

Cultural change due to contact with another culture.

Assimilation

Process where individuals adopt another culture's traits.

Ethnocentrism

Judging another culture based on the standards of one's own.

Cultural Relativism

The belief that no culture is superior to another.

Syncretism

The blending of different cultural or religious beliefs.

Creolization

Mixing of two or more languages to create a new one.

Taboo

Cultural prohibitions against certain actions or behaviors.

Language Family

A large group of related languages, such as Indo-European.

Language Branch

A smaller group within a language family, like Germanic within Indo-European.

Language Group

Set of related languages within a branch, such as Spanish and Italian.

Lingua Franca

A common language used for communication between speakers of different languages.

Isogloss

A geographical boundary marking the limits of a linguistic feature.

Ethnic Religions

Religions linked to a particular ethnic group, like Judaism.

Universalizing Religions

Religions that aim to convert people worldwide, such as Christianity.

Monotheistic Religions

Religions that believe in one deity, including Christianity and Islam.

Scale

Scale is about the size or extent of the study area (local, regional, national, global, etc.)

Scale of analysis

Is about the level of detail and unit of analysis (individual, neighborhood, country, etc.)

Census

an official count of a population that collects key information about people and households.

Intervening Obstacles

________________ are barriers that make it harder for people to move or migrate from one place to another, such as physical, economic, political, or social challenges.

Intervening Opportunities

_____________ are better options that appear during migration and cause people to settle in a place before reaching their original destination.