APHG Unit 1 review for AP Exam

Absolute Direction:

Compass directions such as north or south.

Relative Direction

Directions based on people's perceptions, such as "down the street" or "around the corner."

Absolute Location

The exact position of a place on Earth, typically defined by coordinates (latitude and longitude).

Relative Location

The position of a place in relation to other locations.

Clustering

Objects in an area are close together.

Dispersal

Objects in an area are relatively far apart.

Elevation

The height of a geographic location above a fixed reference point, often sea level

Reference Maps

Maps that show the location of places and geographic features for general reference.

Political Maps

Show governmental boundaries and locations of cities. (Reference Map)

Physical Maps

Depict physical features like mountains, rivers, and lakes. (Reference Map)

Road Maps

Detail highways, streets, and other transportation routes. (Reference Map)

Thematic Maps

Maps that focus on a specific theme or subject area.

Choropleth Maps

Use color or shading to represent data values in predefined areas. (Thematic Map)

Cartograms

Distort map shapes to represent data values, often making areas with higher values appear larger. (Thematic Map)

Graduated Symbol Maps

Use symbols of varying sizes to represent data values (Thematic Map)

Dot Distribution Maps

Use dots to represent the frequency of a phenomenon in a given area. (Thematic Map)

Isoline Maps

Use lines to connect points of equal value, such as elevation or temperature (Thematic Map)

Map Projections

Methods of representing the Earth's curved surface on a flat map, each with its own distortions.

Mercator Projection

Preserves angles and shapes but distorts size, especially near the poles.

Peters Projection

Preserves area but distorts shape and angles

Robinson Projection

Attempts to minimize all types of distortion, providing a more balanced view

Geographic Information System (GIS)

A computer system that stores, organizes, analyzes, and displays geographic data.

Global Positioning System (GPS)

A system that determines the precise position of something on Earth through a series of satellites, tracking stations, and receivers.

Remote Sensing

The process of gathering data about Earth's surface from instruments located far above the planet's surface.

Satellite Navigation Systems

Portable devices that use GPS to plot the user's position

Cultural Ecology

The geographic study of human-environment relationships

Environmental Determinism

The idea that human behavior and development are controlled by the physical environment.

Possibilism

The theory that the physical environment may set limits on human actions, but people have the ability to adjust to the physical environment and choose a course of action from many alternatives.

Built Environment

Man-made or constructed parts of a landscape or area.

Formal Region (Uniform Region)

A region where everyone shares one or more distinctive characteristics, often measurable and consistent throughout the area. (Ex: The state of Texas — shares a government and legal system)

Functional Region (Nodal Region)

A region organized around a central node or focal point, where the activity diminishes as you move outward. (ex: A metropolitan area like New York City and its surrounding suburbs)

Perceptual Region (Vernacular Region)

A region that exists based on people’s cultural identity, perceptions, or opinions. (Ex: The American South — thought of culturally as having certain foods, accents, and traditions)

Distance Decay

interaction between two places decreases as the distance between them increases. (Ex: You’re more likely to visit a nearby grocery store than one 50 miles away.)

Time Space Compression

technology (transportation, communication) has reduced the time it takes to connect distant places, making the world feel "smaller." (Ex: Global shipping and the internet let companies work worldwide almost instantly.)

Place

a place is a unique point on Earth distinguished by specific physical and human characteristics. (Ex: Tokyo is a place known for its dense population, modern tech, and distinct culture.)

Location

This refers to where something is on Earth. (Ex: The absolute location of the Eiffel Tower is 48.8584° N, 2.2945° E OR “South of Canada” describes the U.S. in relative terms.)