AP HUG Unit 2 Chapter 3 Vocabulary

Population distribution

The spatial pattern of human settlement describing how people are spread out across the Earth's surface.

Population density

A mathematical measurement of the average number of people per given unit of land area, typically expressed per square mile or kilometer.

Even distribution

A settlement pattern where people are dispersed relatively equally across a region, commonly observed in agricultural areas where households are scattered.

Cluster distribution

A settlement pattern where people live close together in tight groups, often centered around a resource, industry, or urban core.

Linear distribution

A settlement pattern where people are arranged in a line, typically along a transport route like a river, coast, road, or railway line.

Midlatitudes

The regions located between $30^\circ$ and $60^\circ$ North and South that feature moderate, temperate climates and fertile soils, hosting the majority of the world's population.

Low-lying area

A region close to sea level that typically offers flat land, rich alluvial soil for crops, and easy access to navigable waterways for transportation.

Social stratification

The hierarchical division of a society into separate groups based on socio-economic factors such as wealth, power, status, or religion.

Arithmetic density

A demographic measurement calculated by dividing the total number of people by the total land area.

Physiological density

A measurement calculated by dividing the total population by the amount of arable land, indicating how much pressure a population exerts on its food-producing land.

Arable land

Land that is naturally fertile and physically suitable for cultivation and growing crops.

Agricultural density

A measurement calculated by dividing the total number of farmers by the amount of arable land, reflecting agricultural efficiency and technological development.

Carrying capacity

The maximum population size that a specific environment or region can support sustainably without experiencing environmental deterioration.

Overpopulation

A condition in which the number of people in an area exceeds the available resources and environmental limits needed to sustain them.

Redistricting

The political process of redrawing electoral district boundaries to ensure districts remain relatively equal in population size as demographics change.

Infrastructure

The fundamental physical and organizational structures and facilities (such as roads, power grids, water systems, schools, and hospitals) needed for the operation of a society.

Population pyramid (age-sex composition graph)

A specialized bar graph that visualizes the distribution of a population by age groups and sex, revealing demographic trends in birth rates, death rates, and historical events.

Cohort

A specific group of individuals who share a common demographic characteristic or experience during a particular time period, such as an age bracket on a demographic graph.

Birth deficit

A slowdown or significant drop in births, often visible as a dent or concave section on a population pyramid, usually caused by events like war, economic depression, or famine.

Baby boom

A sudden, sharp spike in birth rates within a population over a sustained period, frequently occurring after a major national crisis or war.

Baby bust

A sudden drop in birth rates that typically follows a period of elevated fertility, continuing until rates stabilize.

Echo

A secondary, smaller spike in birth rates that occurs roughly a generation after a baby boom, driven by the children of the original boom reaching reproductive age.

Potential workforce

The segment of the population considered old enough and healthy enough to be economically active, traditionally defined as individuals between the ages of $15$ and $64$.

Dependent population

The portion of a population generally considered economically inactive and reliant on the working class for support, composed of children under $15$ and seniors aged $65$ and older.

Dependency ratio

A mathematical comparison between the dependent population (under $15$ and $65+$) and the working-age population (ages $15-64$).