Ch. 1

Question 1

Physical Geography

Answer 1

The study of natural processes and the distribution of features in the environment, such as landforms, plants, animals, and climate.

Question 2

Human Geography

Answer 2

The study of the events and processes that have shaped how humans understand, use and alter Earth.

Question 3

Spatial perspective

Answer 3

Where something occurs

Question 4

Ecological perspective

Answer 4

The relationships between living things and their environments.

Question 5

Location

Answer 5

The position that a point or object occupies on Earth

Question 6

Absolute location

Answer 6

The exact location of an object.

Question 7

Relative location

Answer 7

A description of where a place is in relation to other places or features.

Question 8

Place

Answer 8

A location on Earth that is distinguished by its physical and human characteristics.

Question 9

Mental maps

Answer 9

Internalized representations of portions of Earth’s surface

Question 10

Site

Answer 10

A place’s absolute location, as well as its physical characteristics.

Question 11

Situation

Answer 11

A place’s location in relation to other places or its surrounding features.

Question 12

Space

Answer 12

The area between two or more things on Earth’s surface

Question 13

Distributed

Answer 13

How things are arranged in a given space

Question 14

Density

Answer 14

Number of things in a specific area

Question 15

Pattern

Answer 15

How things are arranged in a particular space

Question 16

Flow

Answer 16

The movement of people, goods, and information

Question 17

Environmental determinism

Answer 17

Argues that human behavior is largely controlled by the physical environment

Question 18

Distance decay

Answer 18

The further something is, the less interaction it will have.

Question 19

Time-space compression

Answer 19

The relative distance between spaces shrink

Question 20

Possibilism

Answer 20

Argues that humans have more agency to produce a result than environmental determinism suggests.

Question 21

Sustainability

Answer 21

The use of the Earth’s natural resources in ways that ensure they will continue to be available in the future.

Question 22

Scale

Answer 22

References the area of the world being studied

Question 23

Region

Answer 23

An area of Earth’s surface with certain characteristics that make it distinct from other areas.

Question 24

Formal region

Answer 24

An area that has one or more shared traits

Question 25

Functional region

Answer 25

An area organized by its function around a focal point

Question 26

Node

Answer 26

The focal point of a functional region

Question 27

Suburbs

Answer 27

The residential areas surrounding a city

Question 28

Perceptual/vernacular region

Answer 28

A type of region that reflects people’s feelings and attitudes about a place

Question 29

Globalization

Answer 29

The expansion of economic, cultural, and political processes on a worldwide scale.

Question 30

Theory

Answer 30

A system of ideas intended to explain certain phenomena.

Question 31

World system theory

Answer 31

Helps to explain the reasons why certain regions have held onto political and economic power over long periods of time

Question 32

Core

Answer 32

Wealthier countries with higher education levels and more advanced technology are considered part of the core

Question 33

Periphery

Answer 33

Countries with less wealth, education, and tech

Question 34

Semi-periphery

Answer 34

Countries where both core and periphery processes occur

Question 35

Sustainable development

Answer 35

development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs