AP Human Geography Flashcards: Cities Across The World

What this deck covers

This deck focuses on Cities Across The World, giving you a quick way to review the definitions, rules, and examples that matter most for AP Human Geography.

How to use these flashcards

Work through these flashcards in short sessions. Try to answer each prompt before flipping the card, then revisit any cards you miss until the explanation feels automatic.

Flashcard 1: What is the term for the economic decline of city centers?

Answer: Urban decay. Economic decline leads to abandoned buildings and population loss.

Flashcard 2: What is the primary function of a central business district (CBD)?

Answer: The CBD serves as the commercial and business center of a city. Houses commercial offices, retail businesses, and financial institutions.

Flashcard 3: What is the main concern of urban geography?

Answer: The study of cities and the processes that shape them. Focuses on urban spatial patterns and development processes.

Flashcard 4: Which theory explains the distribution of services based on settlements?

Answer: Central Place Theory. Created by Christaller to explain settlement patterns and service areas.

Flashcard 5: What is the term for a continuous network of urban communities?

Answer: Megalopolis. Multiple metropolitan areas merge into one continuous urban region.

Flashcard 6: Define 'gentrification' in the context of urban geography.

Answer: The process of renovating urban neighborhoods by affluent people. Often displaces lower-income residents through rising property values.

Flashcard 7: What is urban morphology?

Answer: The study of the form and structure of urban places. Examines physical layout, building patterns, and spatial organization.

Flashcard 8: What is meant by 'urban heat island' effect?

Answer: Urban areas that are significantly warmer than their rural surroundings. Concrete and asphalt absorb heat, creating temperature differences.

Flashcard 9: What is a primate city?

Answer: A city that is the largest and most influential in its country. Dominates the urban system and is disproportionately large.

Flashcard 10: What is meant by 'urban heat island' effect?

Answer: Urban areas that are significantly warmer than their rural surroundings. Concrete and asphalt absorb heat, creating temperature differences.

Flashcard 11: Which theory explains the distribution of services based on settlements?

Answer: Central Place Theory. Created by Christaller to explain settlement patterns and service areas.

Flashcard 12: Define 'metropolitan area' in urban geography.

Answer: A large-scale functional area around a central city. Includes central city plus surrounding communities and suburbs.

Flashcard 13: What is the main concern of urban geography?

Answer: The study of cities and the processes that shape them. Focuses on urban spatial patterns and development processes.

Flashcard 14: Identify the term for urban areas that integrate transportation and land use.

Answer: Transit-oriented development. Concentrates development around public transportation hubs.

Flashcard 15: What is the primary focus of new urbanism?

Answer: Promoting walkable neighborhoods and mixed-use development. Encourages compact, pedestrian-friendly community design.

Flashcard 16: Identify the urban model characterized by a single dominant center.

Answer: The Concentric Zone Model. Features concentric rings radiating from a single central point.

Flashcard 17: What is the rank-size rule in urban geography?

Answer: A pattern where the nth largest city is 1/n the size of the largest city. Mathematical relationship describing city size distribution in countries.

Flashcard 18: What is the term for a city with over 10 million inhabitants?

Answer: Megacity. Population threshold defining the world's largest urban centers.

Flashcard 19: Identify the process where urban areas merge with each other.

Answer: Conurbation. Separate cities grow together into one continuous urban area.

Flashcard 20: What is the main feature of a sustainable city?

Answer: Efficient resource use and minimal environmental impact. Balances economic growth with environmental protection.

Flashcard 21: Identify the process where urban areas merge with each other.

Answer: Conurbation. Separate cities grow together into one continuous urban area.

Flashcard 22: Name the process of cities expanding vertically with skyscrapers.

Answer: Vertical urbanization. Building upward rather than outward to accommodate growth.

Flashcard 23: What is the function of a greenbelt in urban planning?

Answer: To limit urban sprawl by surrounding urban areas with open land. Protected open space prevents continuous urban development.

Flashcard 24: What is the goal of urban planning?

Answer: To design sustainable, efficient, and livable urban environments. Coordinates land use, transportation, and infrastructure development.

Flashcard 25: What characterizes a world city?

Answer: A city that is a primary node in the global economic network. Major center of global finance, commerce, and cultural influence.

Flashcard 26: Which model describes a city with sectors that radiate out from the CBD?

Answer: The Sector Model. Different land uses extend outward in pie-shaped wedges.

Flashcard 27: Define 'gentrification' in the context of urban geography.

Answer: The process of renovating urban neighborhoods by affluent people. Often displaces lower-income residents through rising property values.

Flashcard 28: What is the primary focus of new urbanism?

Answer: Promoting walkable neighborhoods and mixed-use development. Encourages compact, pedestrian-friendly community design.

Flashcard 29: What is an informal settlement in urban geography?

Answer: An area where housing is not officially recognized or regulated. Often lacks basic services like water, electricity, or waste management.

Flashcard 30: What is the rank-size rule in urban geography?

Answer: A pattern where the nth largest city is 1/n the size of the largest city. Mathematical relationship describing city size distribution in countries.

Flashcard 31: Which urban model is structured around multiple nuclei?

Answer: The Multiple Nuclei Model. Cities develop around several specialized centers, not just one CBD.

Flashcard 32: What is the purpose of zoning in urban planning?

Answer: To regulate land use and development. Separates incompatible land uses like industry and housing.

Flashcard 33: Identify the concept where cities are connected by economic and social networks.

Answer: Global city network. Cities function as nodes in worldwide economic and information flows.

Flashcard 34: What term describes the rapid expansion of cities into rural areas?

Answer: Urban sprawl. Low-density development spreads outward from urban cores.

Flashcard 35: Which urban model is structured around multiple nuclei?

Answer: The Multiple Nuclei Model. Cities develop around several specialized centers, not just one CBD.

Flashcard 36: What is a primate city?

Answer: A city that is the largest and most influential in its country. Dominates the urban system and is disproportionately large.

Flashcard 37: What characterizes a world city?

Answer: A city that is a primary node in the global economic network. Major center of global finance, commerce, and cultural influence.

Flashcard 38: What distinguishes a metropolitan city from a smaller city?

Answer: Its larger size and greater economic influence. Scale and economic functions create regional dominance.

Flashcard 39: Define 'suburbanization' in urban geography.

Answer: The growth of areas on the fringes of cities. Population movement from cities to surrounding suburban areas.

Flashcard 40: Define 'metropolitan area' in urban geography.

Answer: A large-scale functional area around a central city. Includes central city plus surrounding communities and suburbs.

Flashcard 41: Name the process of cities expanding vertically with skyscrapers.

Answer: Vertical urbanization. Building upward rather than outward to accommodate growth.

Flashcard 42: What term describes the rapid expansion of cities into rural areas?

Answer: Urban sprawl. Low-density development spreads outward from urban cores.

Flashcard 43: What is the primary concern of smart growth policies?

Answer: Sustainable and efficient urban growth management. Controls sprawl while promoting compact, efficient development.

Flashcard 44: What is the primary concern of smart growth policies?

Answer: Sustainable and efficient urban growth management. Controls sprawl while promoting compact, efficient development.

Flashcard 45: Name the process by which cities grow and populations increase.

Answer: Urbanization. Rural-to-urban migration drives city expansion and population density.

Flashcard 46: What is the term for the economic decline of city centers?

Answer: Urban decay. Economic decline leads to abandoned buildings and population loss.

Flashcard 47: What distinguishes a metropolitan city from a smaller city?

Answer: Its larger size and greater economic influence. Scale and economic functions create regional dominance.

Flashcard 48: Define 'suburbanization' in urban geography.

Answer: The growth of areas on the fringes of cities. Population movement from cities to surrounding suburban areas.

Flashcard 49: What is the main feature of a sustainable city?

Answer: Efficient resource use and minimal environmental impact. Balances economic growth with environmental protection.

Flashcard 50: What is the goal of urban planning?

Answer: To design sustainable, efficient, and livable urban environments. Coordinates land use, transportation, and infrastructure development.

Flashcard 51: Identify the type of city designed to be environmentally friendly.

Answer: Eco-city. Integrates green technology and sustainable development principles.

Flashcard 52: Identify the term for urban areas that integrate transportation and land use.

Answer: Transit-oriented development. Concentrates development around public transportation hubs.

Flashcard 53: What is the term for a city with over 10 million inhabitants?

Answer: Megacity. Population threshold defining the world's largest urban centers.

Flashcard 54: What is the term for a continuous network of urban communities?

Answer: Megalopolis. Multiple metropolitan areas merge into one continuous urban region.

Flashcard 55: Identify the term for the decline of industrial activity in a region.

Answer: Deindustrialization. Manufacturing decline often leads to urban population loss.

Flashcard 56: What is an informal settlement in urban geography?

Answer: An area where housing is not officially recognized or regulated. Often lacks basic services like water, electricity, or waste management.

Flashcard 57: Identify the process of redevelopment in existing urban areas.

Answer: Urban renewal. Replaces deteriorated infrastructure with modern development.

Flashcard 58: What is the primary function of a central business district (CBD)?

Answer: The CBD serves as the commercial and business center of a city. Houses commercial offices, retail businesses, and financial institutions.

Flashcard 59: What does the term 'urban hierarchy' refer to?

Answer: A ranking of cities based on their size and economic functions. Orders cities from largest to smallest by population and importance.

Flashcard 60: What is the function of a greenbelt in urban planning?

Answer: To limit urban sprawl by surrounding urban areas with open land. Protected open space prevents continuous urban development.

Flashcard 61: Identify the process of redevelopment in existing urban areas.

Answer: Urban renewal. Replaces deteriorated infrastructure with modern development.

Flashcard 62: Identify the urban model characterized by a single dominant center.

Answer: The Concentric Zone Model. Features concentric rings radiating from a single central point.

Flashcard 63: Identify the type of city designed to be environmentally friendly.

Answer: Eco-city. Integrates green technology and sustainable development principles.

Flashcard 64: Name the process by which cities grow and populations increase.

Answer: Urbanization. Rural-to-urban migration drives city expansion and population density.

Flashcard 65: What is an edge city?

Answer: A large urban area on the outskirts of a city, with its own CBD. Self-contained suburban business districts with major retail and office space.