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Core Concepts 1
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Geography | Study of the human and nonhuman features of Earth |
| Degree | Unit that measures angles |
| Cardinal direction | North, east, south, and west |
| Hemisphere | One half of Earth |
| Sphere | Round-shaped body |
| Longitude | Distance east or west of the Prime Meridian measured in degrees |
| Latitude | Distance north or south of the Equator measured in degrees |
| Absolute location | Exact position on Earth in terms of longitude and latitude |
| Movement | How people, goods, and ideas get from one place to another |
| Relative location | Location of a place relative to another place |
| Human-environment interaction | How people affect their environment and how their environment affects them |
| Place | Mix of human and nonhuman features at a given location |
| Region | Area with at least one unifying physical or human feature such as climate, landforms, population or history |
| Scale | Relative size |
| Aerial photograph | Photographic image of Earth’s surface taken from the air |
| Geographic information system (GIS) | Computer-based system that stores and uses information linked to geographic locations |
| Satellite image | Picture of Earth’s surface taken from a satellite in orbit |
| Distortion | Loss of accuracy |
| Projection | Way to map Earth on a flat surface |
| Key | Section of a map that explains the map’s symbols and shading |
| Locator map | Section of a map that shows a larger area than the main map |
| Scale bar | Section of a map that shows how much distance on the map represents a given distance on the land |
| Physical map | Map that shows physical, or natural, features |
| Elevation | Height above sea level |
| Political map | Map that shows political units, such as countries or states |
| Special-purpose map | Map that shows the location or distribution of human or physical features |