GEG 111 EXAM 1 HARPER COLLEGE LATEST ACTUAL EXAM
What is Geography - ANSWER: The study of Earth's features (land, water, air),
inhabitants (living things) and their spatial (locational) relationships and interactions.
Textbook: the science that studies the relationships among natural
systems, geographic areas, and human society and culture, and the interdependence
of all of these.
5 traditional themes of Geographic Study - ANSWER: 1) Location: Absolute or relative
position on Earth.
2) Place: The human and physical characteristics of a location. No two places are
exactly alike on Earth.
3) Region: An area defined by uniform characteristics.
4) Movement: Interaction between places through migration, and/or diffusion.
5) Human-Earth Relationships: The two way relationship between society and the
environment.
The 3 Primary asked questions in geographic inquiry - ANSWER: -WHERE? (Location)
- WHY THERE? describes or explains the processes that allow the object/subject of
interest to occur at a location
- WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE? The impact the object/subject has on other
phenomena connected to the location and vice versa.
Spatial Analysis - ANSWER: The examination of spatial interactions, patterns, and
variations over area and/or space.
Key Concepts of Spatial Analysis - ANSWER: 1) Spatial Interaction: The interaction
and
interdependence between geographic
areas or sites
2) Spatial Distribution: The arrangement of features in space
3) Regions: A region is an area of the Earth defined by one or more distinctive
characteristics
Primary Steps of the Scientific Method - ANSWER: 1) Observation
2) Hypothesis & Prediction
3) Experimentation and Measurement
4) Peer review
5) Scientific Theory and development
Closed System - ANSWER: A system that is self-contained and isolated from
influences outside the system. (energy can flow in and out)
Open System - ANSWER: A system that exchanges energy and matter with the
surroundings (energy and matter). (Glaciers)
, Feedback - ANSWER: A change in a system caused by the system's output.
Positive Feedback - ANSWER: Changes in a system that are amplified by the system's
output. Ex: rise in atmospheric temperatures by the continual release of greenhouse
gasses into the
atmosphere.
Negative Feedback - ANSWER: A system's operations are reversed by the system's
output.
4 primary environmental spheres - ANSWER: 1. Atmosphere—―air/gasses (abiotic)
2. Lithosphere—―stone/land (abiotic)
3. Hydrosphere—―water (abiotic)
4. Biosphere—―life
Latitude - ANSWER: Angular displacement
from the equator
- North-south direction
- 0º-90º
- Also known as Parallels
Longitude - ANSWER: Angle east and west of the Prime Meridian
• Centered on Greenwich, England
- East-west orientation
- 0º-180º
- Also known as Meridians
3 Geospatial technologies - ANSWER: GPS, GIS, and remote sensing.
GPS - ANSWER: Relies on satellites in orbit to provide precise location and elevation.
GIS - ANSWER: Refers to software and databases used for storing and processing
large amounts of spatial data as separate layers (themes) of geographic
information.
Remote Sensing - ANSWER: Utilizes spacecraft, aircraft, and ground-based sensors to
provide visual data that enhance our understanding.
Our Solar System's formation - ANSWER: - Located in the Milky Way Galaxy. (Flat disk
containing 400 billion stars)
-According to the nebula hypothesis the solar system formed from a large, slowly
rotating and collapsing cloud of dust and gas.
- Estimated to be 50 billion planets in the Milky Way (500 million in habitable zone).
Annual March of the Seasons - ANSWER: Changing of seasons due to earth rotating
on its 23.5 degree axis.
What is Geography - ANSWER: The study of Earth's features (land, water, air),
inhabitants (living things) and their spatial (locational) relationships and interactions.
Textbook: the science that studies the relationships among natural
systems, geographic areas, and human society and culture, and the interdependence
of all of these.
5 traditional themes of Geographic Study - ANSWER: 1) Location: Absolute or relative
position on Earth.
2) Place: The human and physical characteristics of a location. No two places are
exactly alike on Earth.
3) Region: An area defined by uniform characteristics.
4) Movement: Interaction between places through migration, and/or diffusion.
5) Human-Earth Relationships: The two way relationship between society and the
environment.
The 3 Primary asked questions in geographic inquiry - ANSWER: -WHERE? (Location)
- WHY THERE? describes or explains the processes that allow the object/subject of
interest to occur at a location
- WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE? The impact the object/subject has on other
phenomena connected to the location and vice versa.
Spatial Analysis - ANSWER: The examination of spatial interactions, patterns, and
variations over area and/or space.
Key Concepts of Spatial Analysis - ANSWER: 1) Spatial Interaction: The interaction
and
interdependence between geographic
areas or sites
2) Spatial Distribution: The arrangement of features in space
3) Regions: A region is an area of the Earth defined by one or more distinctive
characteristics
Primary Steps of the Scientific Method - ANSWER: 1) Observation
2) Hypothesis & Prediction
3) Experimentation and Measurement
4) Peer review
5) Scientific Theory and development
Closed System - ANSWER: A system that is self-contained and isolated from
influences outside the system. (energy can flow in and out)
Open System - ANSWER: A system that exchanges energy and matter with the
surroundings (energy and matter). (Glaciers)
, Feedback - ANSWER: A change in a system caused by the system's output.
Positive Feedback - ANSWER: Changes in a system that are amplified by the system's
output. Ex: rise in atmospheric temperatures by the continual release of greenhouse
gasses into the
atmosphere.
Negative Feedback - ANSWER: A system's operations are reversed by the system's
output.
4 primary environmental spheres - ANSWER: 1. Atmosphere—―air/gasses (abiotic)
2. Lithosphere—―stone/land (abiotic)
3. Hydrosphere—―water (abiotic)
4. Biosphere—―life
Latitude - ANSWER: Angular displacement
from the equator
- North-south direction
- 0º-90º
- Also known as Parallels
Longitude - ANSWER: Angle east and west of the Prime Meridian
• Centered on Greenwich, England
- East-west orientation
- 0º-180º
- Also known as Meridians
3 Geospatial technologies - ANSWER: GPS, GIS, and remote sensing.
GPS - ANSWER: Relies on satellites in orbit to provide precise location and elevation.
GIS - ANSWER: Refers to software and databases used for storing and processing
large amounts of spatial data as separate layers (themes) of geographic
information.
Remote Sensing - ANSWER: Utilizes spacecraft, aircraft, and ground-based sensors to
provide visual data that enhance our understanding.
Our Solar System's formation - ANSWER: - Located in the Milky Way Galaxy. (Flat disk
containing 400 billion stars)
-According to the nebula hypothesis the solar system formed from a large, slowly
rotating and collapsing cloud of dust and gas.
- Estimated to be 50 billion planets in the Milky Way (500 million in habitable zone).
Annual March of the Seasons - ANSWER: Changing of seasons due to earth rotating
on its 23.5 degree axis.
