6.4 The Size And Distribution Of Cities

Question 1

Urban system

Answer 1

A set of interdependent cities or urban places connected by networks

Question 2

Urban hierarchy

Answer 2

A ranking of cities with the kargest and most powerful cities at the top of the hierarchy

Question 3

Primate city

Answer 3

A city that is much larger than any other city in the country and that dominates the country’s economic, political, and cultural life

Question 4

Rank size rule

Answer 4

The population of a settlement is inversely proportional to its rank in the urban hierarchy

Question 5

Central place theory

Answer 5

A model developed by Walter Christaller that attempts to understand why cities are located where they are

Question 6

Central place

Answer 6

A settlement that makes certain types of profits and services to consumers

Question 7

Threshold

Answer 7

In central place theory, the number of people required to support business

Question 8

Range

Answer 8

Central place theory; the distance people will travel to acquire goods

Question 9

Gravity model

Answer 9

The idea that the closer two places are the more they will influence each-other but places with high population can still interact closely

Question 10

Explain the main difference between the primate city rule and the rank size rule

Answer 10

Rank size rule is more common for developed countries while the primate city rule is more common in areas the have been colonized (both developed and developing countries)

Question 11

How is modernization changing the concept of an urban location

Answer 11

The need for transportation routes is decreasing as communication importance increases