topic 1 study guide Flashcards
Explain (and be able to identify) the difference between a political map and a physical map.
Political Map: Shows state and national boundaries and capital and major cities.
Physical Map: illustrates the physical features of an area, such as the mountains, rivers and lakes and sometimes elevation
How long does each turn (or rotation) of Earth take?
24 hours
What happens as one side of the Earth turns away from the sun?
The sun appears to set on that side.
Know the differences between the eastern, central, and pacific time zones.
Eastern is one hour ahead of the central time zone, three hours ahead of the Pacific.
w long does it take Earth to complete one complete journey (revolution) around the sun?
365 ¼ days
What is the difference between a solstice and an equinox?
An solstice is where days are longest in one hemisphere and shortest in the other
A equinox is where days and nights are nearly equal in length
List and be able to identify the three layers of the Earth.
Crust- the layer of rocks and minerals that surrounds the mantle
Mantle- a thick rocky layer around the core
Core- a sphere of very hot metal at the center of the earth
How would you describe Earth’s mantle?
It is solid, but its temperature makes it able to flow.
a thick rocky layer around the core
How does plate movement create mountains?
When two plates of crust push against each other, the pressure makes the crust bend to form mountains
What causes earthquakes?
When plates slide against each other
What is the difference between weather and climate?
Weather is the condition of the air and sky at a certain time and place and climate is the average weather over many years
What are the different forms of precipitation?
Rain, snow, sleet, and hail
Precipitation is greatest near the ______________.
The Equator
Describe the differences in location/climate between the polar zones, tropics, and temperate zones.
Temperatures are warmest in the tropics, between the tropic of Cancer and Capricorn, and coolest close to the poles, north of the Arctic Circle and South of the Antarctic, and temperate zones have hot summers and cold winters and a moderate spring and fall. They are between the high and low latitudes.
When do most storms occur?
When 2 air masses of moisture come together.
What are ecosystems?
A group of plants and animals that depend on each other and their environment for survival
Which ecosystem usually supports thick forests of deciduous trees?
Temperate Forest Ecosystem
Give examples of both renewable and nonrenewable resources.
Renewable- Soil, Water, Plants, and Animals
Nonrenewable- Fossil Fuels, Minerals, metal ores
What is the difference between renewable and nonrenewable resources?
A renewable resource is a resource that natural forces or people can replace in a relatively short time.
A nonrenewable resource is a resource that cannot be replaced, or can be replaced over millions of years
Since the 1800s, what activity has changed land use and led to the growth of large cities in many countries?
industrilization
What is the current (estimated) world population?
more than 7 billion
Since 1800, what main factors have caused a population boom?
Healthier lifestyles, better healthcare, better food production are all ways
Why is the infant mortality rate higher in poor, developing countries?
A lack of clean food and water can lead to widespread starvation and disease.
Give examples of “push factors” that force people to leave their homes.
To escape poverty and mistreatment and war/conflict
Define culture…
Beliefs, customs, practices, and behaviors of a particular nation or group of people.
What is the basic social unit of any society?
a family
An area where a set of cultural traits is dominant is known as a ___________ region.
culture
What is cultural diffusion?
The spread of cultural traits from one culture to another
What do some people see as a negative effect of rapid global communication?
They worry that it is creating a new global culture that threatens diversity
Technology can help spread _______________, and improved ___________________ has sped cultural change.
Culture, communication
Advances in science and technology have transformed people’s lives and raised their ______________.
standard of living
Name and describe each of the five themes of geography:
Location- where something is using either relative or absolute location
Place- the mix of human and nonhuman features at a given location
Region- a group of places that have something in common
Movement- explores how and way people, goods, and ideas move from one place to another
Human-environment interaction- consider how people interact with the environment and how it interacts with them.
What is one advantage of maps over aerial photographs as a way of understanding Earth’s surface?
Photographs only show the most important features for a given purpose.
How do digital maps have an advantage over printed maps?
They can be easily updated to show changes on Earth’s surface
How do you identify the different hemispheres of the Earth (how are they divided)?
The Prime Meridian divides the earth into east and west and the equator into north and south.
Explain what the following features help you to understand on a map:
Compass rose: shows which directions
Key: It explains what the symbols and colors on a map mean
Scale bar: refers to the relationship between the distance on the map and the corresponding distance on the ground
