Essay type long questions for A1

Question 1

List five key characteristics of a map

Answer 1

Portrays, as accurately as possible, the spatial relationships between features
(where a feature is located relative to other features)
Often drawn to a scale
Emphasises and omits certain features

Question 2

Describe what spatial autocorrelation is

Answer 2

Spatial autocorrelation is the tendency for like things to occur near one another in
geographic space and it can be measured using Moran’s coefficient.

Question 3

How can you measure the relationship between three or more variables

Answer 3

Multiple regression, single dependent and multiple independent variables

Question 4

Describe the shape of the earth

Answer 4

Earth rotates around its axle of rotation
* Which passes through the North star*, North Pole and
south pole
* The equator is the intersection of the earth’s surface
and an imaginary plane passed through the earth’s
centre, perpendicular to the axle of rotation
* The equator separates the earth into the southern and
northern hemisphere

• Geographical coordinates (locations) are given by latitude and longitude,
  expressed in degrees, minutes and seconds (or decimal degrees)
• Longitudes (meridians) are parallel north-south lines that pass through the poles,
  while latitudes (parallel) east-west lines that are parallel to the equator.
• Latitude and longitude can be estimated by using celestial bodies as a reference
• These lines are also important for navigation as it can be used to measure
  distances and to measure directions on the earth’s surface.

Question 5

what are visual variables

Answer 5

Quantitative visual variables
Ordinal, interval or ratio data
* Spacing
* Size
* Perspective height
* Colour Hue
* Lightness
* Saturation

Qualitative data
Nominal data
* Orientation
* Shape
* Arrangement
* Colour Hue

Combining visual variables
like spacing and size
and patterns and textures

Question 6

why do we use flat maps?

Answer 6

• Difficult to scale (would need a ~254 m sized globe to show the same details as on a 1:50 000 scaled map)
• Inconvenient to carry around and store!
• Measuring distances on a curved surface is tricky

Question 7

Why are spatial skills important

Answer 7

develops problem solving skills, maths skills and reading comprehension
spatial reasoning is essential for solving everyday problems such as orientating yourself in a new area

Question 8

What geographic questions can you ask

Answer 8

questions about:
distribution
location
association
interaction
change