Unit 1 vocab COPY

Question 1

absolute direction*

Answer 1

A compass direction such as north or south

Question 2

*Absolute distance

Answer 2

The distance that can be measured with a standard unit of length, such as a mile or kilometer

Question 3

*Absolute location

Answer 3

The exact position of a place on the Earth’s surface described by coordinates such as latitude and longitude

Question 4

*Census

Answer 4

An official count or survey of a population, typically recording various details of individuals

Question 5

*Clustered

Answer 5

A term used to describe a distribution of data points that are close together

Question 6

Data*

Answer 6

Facts and statistics collected together for reference or analysis

Question 7

*Dispersed

Answer 7

A term used to describe a distribution of data points that are spread out

Question 8

*Distortion

Answer 8

The alteration of the original shape, size, or position of a feature on a map

Question 9

*Distance Decay

Answer 9

The diminishing in importance and eventual disappearance of a phenomenon with increasing distance from its origin

Question 10

*Elevation

Answer 10

The height above a given level, especially sea level

Question 11

*Environmental determinism

Answer 11

The view that the natural environment has a controlling influence over various aspects of human life, including cultural development

Question 12

*Formal region

Answer 12

An area in which everyone shares in one or more distinctive characteristics

Question 13

*Functional region

Answer 13

An area organized around a node or focal point

Question 14

*Geographic information system (GIS)

Answer 14

A computer system designed to capture, store, manipulate, analyze, manage, and present spatial or geographic data.

Question 15

*Geospatial

Answer 15

Relating to or denoting data that is associated with a particular location

Question 16

*Global positioning system (GPS)

Answer 16

A satellite-based navigation system that allows users to determine their position anywhere on Earth

Question 17

*Map projections

Answer 17

A systematic rendering on a flat surface of the geographic coordinates of the features found on Earth’s surface

Question 18

*Perceptual region

Answer 18

A region that only exists as a conceptualization or an idea and not as a physically demarcated entity.

Question 19

*Place

Answer 19

A specific point on Earth distinguished by a particular characteristic.

Question 20

Possibilism*

Answer 20

The theory that the physical environment may set limits on human actions, but people have the ability to adjust to the physical environment and choose a course of action from many alternatives

Question 21

Reference maps*

Answer 21

Maps that show the location of geographic areas for which detailed mapping exists

Question 22

Region*

Answer 22

An area distinguished by a unique combination of trends or features

Question 23

Relative direction*

Answer 23

Directions such as left, right, forward, backward, up, and down based on people’s perception of places

Question 24

Relative distance*

Answer 24

A measure of the social, cultural, and economic relatedness or connectivity between two places

Question 25

Relative location*

Answer 25

The regional position or situation of a place relative to the position of other places

Question 26

Remote sensing*

Answer 26

The scanning of the Earth by satellite or high-flying aircraft to obtain information about earth

Question 27

Scale of analysis*

Answer 27

The level of geographical analysis, from global to local

Question 28

Site

Answer 28

The physical character of a place

Question 29

Situation

Answer 29

The location of a place relative to other places and human activities

Question 30

Spatial*

Answer 30

Relating to space and the effective use of space

Question 31

Thematic map*

Answer 31

A type of map that displays one or more variables—such as population, income, or climate—within a specific area

Question 32

Time-space compression*

Answer 32

The increasing sense of connectivity that seems to be bringing people closer together even though their distances are the same

Question 33

Time zones

Answer 33

A region of the globe that observes a uniform standard time for legal, commercial, and social purposes