AP Human Geography Flashcards: The Internal Structure Of Cities

What this deck covers

This deck focuses on The Internal Structure Of Cities, 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 does 'megacity' refer to?

Answer: A city with over 10 million inhabitants. Found primarily in developing countries experiencing rapid growth.

Flashcard 2: What is the concentric zone model?

Answer: A city model with rings around a central business district. Developed by Burgess, based on Chicago's growth pattern.

Flashcard 3: What is the primary focus of 'urban sociology'?

Answer: Study of life and human interaction in urban areas. Examines social patterns, behavior, and community formation.

Flashcard 4: What is the urban hierarchy?

Answer: A ranking of cities based on size and economic function. Orders cities from largest to smallest by population and influence.

Flashcard 5: Define 'urban ecosystem'.

Answer: The ecological relationships within urban areas. Includes plants, animals, and environmental interactions in cities.

Flashcard 6: Which model includes a 'zone of transition'?

Answer: Concentric zone model. The deteriorating area surrounding the CBD in Burgess's model.

Flashcard 7: What is a 'greenbelt'?

Answer: An area of open land around a city, where building is restricted. Prevents urban sprawl and preserves agricultural land.

Flashcard 8: What is the concentric zone model?

Answer: A city model with rings around a central business district. Developed by Burgess, based on Chicago's growth pattern.

Flashcard 9: What is a 'greenbelt'?

Answer: An area of open land around a city, where building is restricted. Prevents urban sprawl and preserves agricultural land.

Flashcard 10: What is the 'urban-rural fringe'?

Answer: Transition zone where urban and rural uses mix. Where suburban and agricultural land uses meet.

Flashcard 11: What is the 'bid-rent theory'?

Answer: Explains how the price and demand for real estate change with distance from the CBD. Land value decreases with distance from city center.

Flashcard 12: What does 'urban resilience' refer to?

Answer: Ability of a city to absorb and recover from shocks. Adapts to economic, social, and environmental challenges.

Flashcard 13: What is the purpose of urban planning?

Answer: To design and regulate land use in urban areas. Manages growth, zoning, and infrastructure development.

Flashcard 14: Define 'central business district (CBD)'.

Answer: The commercial and business center of a city. Typically has highest land values and tallest buildings.

Flashcard 15: What is 'counterurbanization'?

Answer: Net migration from urban to rural areas. Reverse of traditional rural-to-urban migration patterns.

Flashcard 16: Identify the core concept of the sector model.

Answer: City develops in sectors or wedges from the center. Transportation routes influence urban growth patterns outward.

Flashcard 17: What is 'decentralization' in urban contexts?

Answer: Movement of people and businesses from the city center. Creates suburban sprawl and reduces urban density.

Flashcard 18: What is the 'rank-size rule'?

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

Flashcard 19: What does 'urban resilience' refer to?

Answer: Ability of a city to absorb and recover from shocks. Adapts to economic, social, and environmental challenges.

Flashcard 20: Identify a characteristic of a world city.

Answer: A city with global economic influence. Major centers for finance, trade, and international business.

Flashcard 21: What is a 'megalopolis'?

Answer: Large, coalescing supercities forming in diverse parts of the world. Continuous urban corridor connecting multiple cities.

Flashcard 22: What is the 'rank-size rule'?

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

Flashcard 23: Define 'urban heat island'.

Answer: Urban areas warmer than their rural surroundings. Caused by concrete, asphalt, and reduced vegetation.

Flashcard 24: What is the 'gravity model' in urban geography?

Answer: Predicts interaction based on size and distance of places. Larger, closer places have stronger interaction potential.

Flashcard 25: Identify a characteristic of a world city.

Answer: A city with global economic influence. Major centers for finance, trade, and international business.

Flashcard 26: What is a 'primate city'?

Answer: A city that is disproportionately larger than others in a country. At least twice the size of the second-largest city.

Flashcard 27: Identify a key feature of new urbanism.

Answer: Walkable neighborhoods with diverse housing. Promotes mixed-use development and reduced car dependency.

Flashcard 28: Define 'edge city'.

Answer: A concentration of business outside a traditional downtown. Suburban commercial centers with office, retail, and entertainment.

Flashcard 29: What is the primary goal of smart growth?

Answer: To limit urban sprawl and promote sustainable cities. Encourages compact, transit-oriented development patterns.

Flashcard 30: Define 'urban decay'.

Answer: Deterioration of urban areas due to neglect or age. Results from disinvestment, poverty, and population loss.

Flashcard 31: Identify the impact of zoning laws.

Answer: Regulate land use and shape urban development. Separate residential, commercial, and industrial areas.

Flashcard 32: What is the main critique of the concentric zone model?

Answer: Oversimplifies city development patterns. Ignores transportation, topography, and cultural factors.

Flashcard 33: Define 'urban morphology'.

Answer: Study of the physical form of cities. Examines building patterns, street layouts, and spatial organization.

Flashcard 34: What is the 'urban-rural fringe'?

Answer: Transition zone where urban and rural uses mix. Where suburban and agricultural land uses meet.

Flashcard 35: What is the multiple nuclei model?

Answer: A city model with multiple centers or nodes. Created by Harris and Ullman, reflects modern city complexity.

Flashcard 36: Identify a feature of 'sustainable urban development'.

Answer: Balancing social, economic, and environmental needs. Meets present needs without compromising future generations.

Flashcard 37: Identify a key feature of new urbanism.

Answer: Walkable neighborhoods with diverse housing. Promotes mixed-use development and reduced car dependency.

Flashcard 38: Identify the urban model by Hoyt.

Answer: Sector model. Emphasizes transportation corridors shaping urban development.

Flashcard 39: Define 'urban heat island'.

Answer: Urban areas warmer than their rural surroundings. Caused by concrete, asphalt, and reduced vegetation.

Flashcard 40: What is a 'gateway city'?

Answer: A city that serves as an entry point for immigrants. First destination for many international migrants.

Flashcard 41: What is the purpose of a 'census metropolitan area'?

Answer: To measure population and economic activity in a city. Statistical area used for urban planning and analysis.

Flashcard 42: What is 'exurbanization'?

Answer: Movement of people to rural areas beyond suburbs. Low-density settlement beyond traditional suburban areas.

Flashcard 43: What is 'exurbanization'?

Answer: Movement of people to rural areas beyond suburbs. Low-density settlement beyond traditional suburban areas.

Flashcard 44: What is a 'primate city'?

Answer: A city that is disproportionately larger than others in a country. At least twice the size of the second-largest city.

Flashcard 45: What is the multiple nuclei model?

Answer: A city model with multiple centers or nodes. Created by Harris and Ullman, reflects modern city complexity.

Flashcard 46: What is the main critique of the concentric zone model?

Answer: Oversimplifies city development patterns. Ignores transportation, topography, and cultural factors.

Flashcard 47: Define 'urbanization'.

Answer: Increase in the proportion of people living in urban areas. Global trend as people move from rural to urban areas.

Flashcard 48: Define 'edge city'.

Answer: A concentration of business outside a traditional downtown. Suburban commercial centers with office, retail, and entertainment.

Flashcard 49: What is the purpose of a 'census metropolitan area'?

Answer: To measure population and economic activity in a city. Statistical area used for urban planning and analysis.

Flashcard 50: What is the urban hierarchy?

Answer: A ranking of cities based on size and economic function. Orders cities from largest to smallest by population and influence.

Flashcard 51: Define 'urban renewal'.

Answer: Revitalization of urban areas through redevelopment. Government-led programs to improve deteriorating neighborhoods.

Flashcard 52: Identify the urban model by Hoyt.

Answer: Sector model. Emphasizes transportation corridors shaping urban development.

Flashcard 53: Identify the core concept of the sector model.

Answer: City develops in sectors or wedges from the center. Transportation routes influence urban growth patterns outward.

Flashcard 54: Define 'urban decay'.

Answer: Deterioration of urban areas due to neglect or age. Results from disinvestment, poverty, and population loss.

Flashcard 55: Identify the characteristic of 'downtown revitalization'.

Answer: Efforts to renew and restore city centers. Attracts businesses, residents, and tourists back downtown.

Flashcard 56: What is the 'gravity model' in urban geography?

Answer: Predicts interaction based on size and distance of places. Larger, closer places have stronger interaction potential.

Flashcard 57: Define 'urban ecosystem'.

Answer: The ecological relationships within urban areas. Includes plants, animals, and environmental interactions in cities.

Flashcard 58: What is the primary focus of 'urban sociology'?

Answer: Study of life and human interaction in urban areas. Examines social patterns, behavior, and community formation.

Flashcard 59: Define 'urban renewal'.

Answer: Revitalization of urban areas through redevelopment. Government-led programs to improve deteriorating neighborhoods.

Flashcard 60: Identify the characteristic of 'downtown revitalization'.

Answer: Efforts to renew and restore city centers. Attracts businesses, residents, and tourists back downtown.

Flashcard 61: What is the purpose of urban planning?

Answer: To design and regulate land use in urban areas. Manages growth, zoning, and infrastructure development.

Flashcard 62: Define 'urbanization'.

Answer: Increase in the proportion of people living in urban areas. Global trend as people move from rural to urban areas.

Flashcard 63: Which model includes a 'zone of transition'?

Answer: Concentric zone model. The deteriorating area surrounding the CBD in Burgess's model.

Flashcard 64: Identify a feature of 'sustainable urban development'.

Answer: Balancing social, economic, and environmental needs. Meets present needs without compromising future generations.

Flashcard 65: What is a 'gateway city'?

Answer: A city that serves as an entry point for immigrants. First destination for many international migrants.

Flashcard 66: What is a 'megalopolis'?

Answer: Large, coalescing supercities forming in diverse parts of the world. Continuous urban corridor connecting multiple cities.

Flashcard 67: Define 'urban sprawl'.

Answer: Uncontrolled expansion of urban areas. Low-density development consuming agricultural and natural land.

Flashcard 68: Define 'central business district (CBD)'.

Answer: The commercial and business center of a city. Typically has highest land values and tallest buildings.

Flashcard 69: What is 'counterurbanization'?

Answer: Net migration from urban to rural areas. Reverse of traditional rural-to-urban migration patterns.

Flashcard 70: Identify the impact of zoning laws.

Answer: Regulate land use and shape urban development. Separate residential, commercial, and industrial areas.

Flashcard 71: What is the 'bid-rent theory'?

Answer: Explains how the price and demand for real estate change with distance from the CBD. Land value decreases with distance from city center.

Flashcard 72: What is the primary goal of smart growth?

Answer: To limit urban sprawl and promote sustainable cities. Encourages compact, transit-oriented development patterns.