Unit 1 Flashcards
Memorization
Geography
The study of places and the relationships between people and their environments.
Geography can be split into two main branches:
Physical Geography: Studies the natural features of the Earth (landforms, climate, ecosystems).
Human Geography: Studies human activities, cultures, populations, economies, and how they are interconnected with the environment.
Location
Refers to where something is placed on Earth.
Absolute Location: Precise location using latitude and longitude (e.g., the Eiffel Tower is at 48.8584° N, 2.2945° E).
Relative Location: Describes a place in relation to other locations (e.g., “Paris is north of Madrid”).
Place
Refers to the characteristics that make a location unique. These characteristics can be physical (e.g., mountains, rivers) or human (e.g., culture, population).
Region
Formal Region
Functional Region
Vernacular Region
Region: An area with shared characteristics. There are different types of regions:
Formal Region (Uniform Region): Defined by a single, unifying characteristic, such as language, religion, or climate (e.g., the Sahara Desert).
Functional Region (Nodal Region): Defined by the connections or interactions that occur within it. This could be a metropolitan area like New York City, with suburbs and surrounding areas linked through transportation and economy.
Vernacular Region (Perceptual Region): Based on people’s perceptions and attitudes. For example, “The South” in the United States is often considered a cultural and geographical region, even though its boundaries are vague.
What is scale in mapping?
The relationship between the size of something on a map and its actual size on Earth.
For example, a 1:10,000 scale means one unit on the map equals 10,000 units in real life.
What does space refer to?
The physical distance between two objects or places.
What is spatial analysis?
The process of looking at how things are arranged in space.
What does site refer to?
The physical characteristics of a place, such as its climate, landforms, and vegetation.
For example, a city on a river.
What does situation refer to?
The location of a place relative to other places, considering its accessibility and connectivity.
What is the Gravity Model?
The Gravity Model helps predict the interaction between two places, suggesting that larger and closer places are more likely to have greater interaction than smaller, more distant ones.
What does Von Thünen’s Model of Agricultural Land Use explain?
Von Thünen’s model explains the location of agricultural activities based on transportation costs and land value.
What crops are grown closest to the market according to Von Thünen’s Model?
High-value, perishable crops like vegetables are grown closest to the market.
What is Central Place Theory?
Central Place Theory explains the distribution and size of cities and towns, showing how central places provide services to surrounding areas.
What influences the size and spacing of central places in Central Place Theory?
Factors like transportation, population, and the types of goods and services influence the size and spacing of central places.
What does the Bid-Rent Theory explain?
The Bid-Rent Theory explains how land rent changes as you move away from the city center, with the highest rent in the center.
What are the different types of maps used in geography?
Types of maps include Political Maps, Physical Maps, Topographic Maps, and Thematic Maps.
What is Cartography?
Cartography is the study and practice of making maps.
What is the purpose of projections in mapping?
Projections transform the Earth’s 3D surface into a 2D map, with different types having various distortions.
What is the Mercator Projection?
The Mercator Projection distorts size, especially near the poles, but preserves angles and shapes.
What is the Robinson Projection?
The Robinson Projection attempts to minimize distortion in size, shape, and distance.
What is the Gall-Peters Projection?
The Gall-Peters Projection focuses on accurate size but distorts shape and direction.
What is a Conic Projection best for?
Conic Projection is best for mapping smaller areas, like countries or continents.
What is GPS?
GPS (Global Positioning System) uses satellites to determine precise location on Earth.
What is GIS?
GIS (Geographic Information Systems) is a tool used to analyze spatial data and create maps.
