Study AP Human Geography with flashcards covering the models, concepts, and vocabulary tested across all 7 units.
Must-Know AP Human Geography Terms and Models
- Demographic Transition Model (DTM): 4-stage model of population change. Stage 1: high birth/death rates. Stage 2: death rate falls (population grows). Stage 3: birth rate falls. Stage 4: low birth/death rates (stable/declining population).
- von Thünen Model: Agricultural land use model showing concentric rings around a central market based on transportation costs and land rent. Dairy/market gardening closest to market; ranching/grain farming further out.
- Bid-Rent Theory: Land value decreases with distance from CBD. Different land users (retail, office, residential) bid highest at different distances from the center.
- Ravenstein's Laws of Migration: Most migrants travel short distances; step migration is common; urban areas attract more migrants; most migrants are adults; economic motives dominate.
- Centripetal vs. Centrifugal Forces: Centripetal forces hold a state together (shared culture, strong government). Centrifugal forces pull a state apart (regional differences, ethnic conflict).
- Primate City: A city that is disproportionately large compared to the next largest city in the country (often >2× the population). Common in developing countries.
- Commodity Chain: Series of links connecting producers of raw materials to manufacturers to retailers to consumers. Shows geographic distribution of production.
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