AP®︎ Human Geography: Topic 1.1 Flashcards
Master key terms and definitions for Topic 1.1 of AP Human Geography – Introduction to Maps to help you prep for quizzes and the AP exam.
Map
A selective, symbolic representation of locations, features, and spatial relationships on Earth
A selective, symbolic representation of locations, features, and spatial relationships on Earth
The part of a map that explains the meanings of its symbols, colors, and patterns
The directional alignment of a map, shown by indicators such as a north arrow or geographic grid
Qualitative information distinguishes categories or kinds; quantitative information reports numerical values
Latitude measures position north or south of the equator; longitude measures position east or west of the prime meridian
A map emphasizing the locations of features to help users locate places or travel between them
A reference map showing governmental units, boundaries, cities, and capitals
A reference map showing natural features such as mountains, rivers, lakes, and coastlines
A reference map showing streets, highways, rail lines, routes, and transportation connections
A reference map showing elevation, relief, and landform shape, usually with contour lines
A map designed to show the geographic distribution, concentration, intensity, or movement of a particular subject
A thematic map that shades predefined areas according to ranges of a variable, especially rates, percentages, ratios, or densities
A thematic map using dots, each representing an occurrence or stated quantity, to show a phenomenon's distribution and concentration
A thematic map placing symbols at locations and scaling each symbol's area to the magnitude of a variable
A thematic map that assigns symbols to a limited set of size classes representing ranges of values
A thematic map using lines that connect points of equal value
An isoline connecting points of equal elevation
The difference in elevation between successive contour lines
A thematic map that deliberately resizes geographic units according to a variable rather than actual land area
A thematic map using lines or arrows to show movement, with direction shown by arrows and volume often shown by line thickness
Measured physical separation expressed in standard units such as kilometers or miles
Separation expressed through time, cost, accessibility, effort, or perception rather than fixed physical units
Direction based on a fixed frame of reference, such as cardinal directions or a compass bearing
Direction described in relation to another feature or a locally understood frame of reference
A spatial pattern in which mapped features are concentrated near one another
A spatial pattern in which features are spread across space rather than concentrated in one location
The height of a location above a reference level, usually mean sea level
The differences between higher and lower elevations within an area
The relationship between a distance on a map and the corresponding distance on Earth
A map scale written as a unitless ratio, such as 1:50,000, meaning one map unit equals 50,000 of the same ground units
A map scale stated in words, such as one centimeter represents one kilometer
A marked bar showing ground distance that remains proportionally accurate when resized with the map
A large-scale map shows a small area in greater detail; a small-scale map shows a large area in less detail
A mathematical method for transferring Earth's curved surface to a flat plane, inevitably distorting shape, area, distance, or direction
A projection that preserves local angles and small-area shapes but distorts area
A projection that preserves the correct relative areas of regions while distorting their shapes
A projection preserving specified distances from a point or along selected lines, but not all distances everywhere
A projection based conceptually on a cylinder, usually with distortion increasing away from the equator
A projection based conceptually on a cone that can minimize distortion across middle latitudes
A projection conceptually made onto a plane touching the globe at one point; it preserves direction from the center, with distortion generally increasing outward
A cylindrical conformal projection that preserves local shapes and angles and shows lines of constant compass bearing as straight, but greatly exaggerates area toward the poles
A cylindrical equal-area projection preserving relative area while stretching or compressing geographic shapes
A projection that balances multiple distortions rather than preserving any one spatial property perfectly
A compromise world projection that balances distortions of area, shape, distance, and direction for general reference
