Chapter 1 big ideas review packet

Question 1

What is an absolute area/space?

Answer 1

a space which can be measured. Ex: earth

Question 2

What is a relative area/space?

Answer 2

a space which cannot be measured. Ex: outer space

Question 3

Location can either be ___ or ___ .

Answer 3

absolute (exact) or Relative (in relation to something else).

Question 4

Define Place.

Answer 4

A point in a space distinguished by specific physical or social characteristics.

Question 5

Define scale.

Answer 5

The proportion between the whole earth and the size of the map being looked at.

Question 6

Define Pattern.

Answer 6

The geometric or regular arrangement of something in an area.

Question 7

give an example of a pattern.

Answer 7

Growing population over time/ use of a certain vegetation in an area.

Question 8

Define Site.

Answer 8

the physical characteristics of a place, such as its topography, vegetation, climate, and water resources.

Question 9

Give an example of site.

Answer 9

Ex: the Ohio River is part of Louisville’s site.

Question 10

Define Situation.

Answer 10

the geographic context of a place, including its political, economic, and social characteristics.

Question 11

Define Cultural Regions.

Answer 11

areas in which people share one or more distinct cultural traits thus creating a homogenous region.

Question 12

What are the three major types of cultural regions.

Answer 12

Formal/Uniform region, Functional/Nodal region, and Perceptual/Vernacular region.

Question 13

Define a Formal/Uniform region.

Answer 13

A region defined by a physical or cultural trait which unifies the area. This is data driven.

Question 14

Define a functional/Nodal Region.

Answer 14

A region that is unified by an economic, political, or social service.

Question 15

Define a Perceptual/Vernacular Region.

Answer 15

Region based on stereotypes or people’s opinions, based on people’s sense of identity.

Question 16

Define distance decay.

Answer 16

Principle that states the farther one gets from the hearth, the less frequent things become due to less interaction.

Question 17

What is friction of distance?

Answer 17

a concept that describes distance decay which means that distance slows something down and requires more money and energy to overcome.

Question 18

What is environmental determinism?

Answer 18

The Ancient Greeks hypothesized that people’s behaviors and physiological condition is a repercussion of their location and the climate of the area. Climate extremes influence human’s mental capability.

Question 19

What was some of the criticism with environmental theory from early 20th century?

Answer 19

1. too much of a cause-effect relationship and overly simplistic. 2. “Similar natural setting don’t produce same cultural practices and human behavior.” 3. this model could create stereotypes of other cultures.

Question 20

Define possibilism.

Answer 20

humans use their creativity to adjust and overcome the constraints of their environment to accommodate for their own needs.

Question 21

Which is more widely accepted, possibilism or environmental determinism?

Answer 21

Possibilism.

Question 22

What are the two main types of maps?

Answer 22

Reference maps and Thematic maps.

Question 23

What is a reference map?

Answer 23

A reference map shows features related to location which can be natural or man-made.

Question 24

What is a Thematic Map?

Answer 24

Maps base on a particular characteristic or theme. different types of thematic maps are better suited to represent some data than others, depending on the data and the objective.

Question 25

What are the types of thematic maps?

Answer 25

Cartogram, Choropleth, Dot, Graduated Symbol, and Isoline.

Question 26

what is a cartogram map?

Answer 26

A map that distorts land area based on some variable, such as population.

Question 27

What is a choropleth map?

Answer 27

a map that uses shading to show values.

Question 28

What is a Dot map?

Answer 28

A map that uses dots of the same size to represent a particular quantity; useful to show concentrations.

Question 29

What is a graduated symbol map?

Answer 29

A map that uses the same symbol, but different sizes of that symbol to represent a phenomenon.

Question 30

What is an Isoline map?

Answer 30

A map that uses lines to connect areas of similar value, often used with climate.

Question 31

Which map projections are perfect and do not distort any certain properties.

Answer 31

none.

Question 32

What are the four features that can be distorted on a map?

Answer 32

shape, area, distance, and direction.

Question 33

What are the four types of map projections?

Answer 33

Robinson, Mercator, Polar, and Peter.

Question 34

Explain the uses, distortion, and ways to identify a Robinson Map.

Answer 34

uses- just a compromise. Distortion - distorts a little bit of everything. Ways to identify - round sides and flat bottom and top.

Question 35

Explain the uses, distortion, and ways to identify a Mercator map.

Answer 35

uses- used by ships for navigation. distortion- size and shape especially at the poles. ways to identify- Greenland looks about the same size as Africa.

Question 36

Explain the uses, distortion, and ways to identify a Polar map.

Answer 36

uses- used for airline companies to discover cheapest route across oceans. Distortion- size and shape especially at the poles. Ways to identify- it is completely round and the image is from above looking down.

Question 37

Explain the uses, distortion, and ways to identify a Peter Map.

Answer 37

uses- preserves area to accurately display the actual land mass especially in “third world” countries, that were mapped biasedly earlier. distortion- shape of countries especially near the equator. Ways to identify- Africa and South America are longer and Europe is more compact.

Question 38

What is remote sensing?

Answer 38

uses technology to get information on objects far away. Ex. google earth.

Question 39

What are early uses of remote sensing?

Answer 39

observing weather and environmentally related things.

Question 40

What is GPS?

Answer 40

a type of remote sensing that uses artificial satellites, radio signals, and a receiver to track things.

Question 41

What does GPS help with?

Answer 41

gathering data, confirming boundaries, and keeping track of plants and animals (also used in precision farming).

Question 42

What is online mapping?

Answer 42

maps that use the internet and can be accessed online. GIS and GPS are both examples.

Question 43

What are 3 major criticisms with GIS?

Answer 43

1. have to have necessary hardware and software (expensive to get) 2. reinforces power of those who can get it over those who cannot. 3. promotes detached Western view of never going to place being visited.