1.2: Understanding the Physical World

• Writing Prompt: 1) Explain one way that you have adapted to the environment. 2) Explain one advantage and one disadvantage to adapting the environment.

Objectives

• Explain the differences between various types of projection maps and identify their strengths and weaknesses.

• Identify the four major landforms.

• Explain what factors influence climate.

Tools of the Geographers

• Globes: more accurate than a map– Shaped like the earth, which is technically

called an Ellipsoid.– “Gives true picture of the size and shape of the

landmasses and of distances across oceans (pg. 8).”

– Awkward, difficult to transport

Tools con’t

• Maps: Portable/Convenient/Practical– Drawbacks

• The world is not flat, thus all maps “distort the Earth in some way (pg. 8).”

4 Types of maps

• 1.) Mercator projection

• 2.) Interrupted projection

• 3.) Peters projection

• 4.) Robinson projection

1.) Mercator projection

• Created out of need in 1569.– Sailors/Explorers needed better maps that

showed directions accurately.

• Positives: – Accurate view of land areas near the Equator.

• Drawbacks:– Distorts shape of lands near N. and S.

American, and Greenland

Mercator projection

2.) Interrupted projection

• Positives:– Proportionally sized and accurately shaped

landmasses.

• Drawbacks:– Cuts out parts of the oceans– Makes it impossible to accurately measure

distance involving oceans or plot a trans-oceanic routes

Interrupted projection

Peters projection

• Positives:– Correct areas of landmasses and oceans– Directions are also correct

• Drawbacks:– Distorts the shapes of Africa and S. America– Appear longer and thinner

Peters projection

Robinson projection

• Most commonly used today.

• Positives: – Proportionally sized and shaped (for the most part)

– Gives moderately “accurate view of the sizes of oceans and the distances across land areas.

• Drawbacks: – Distorts peripheries

Robinson projection

Political Map

• Purpose: To show national boundaries.

• Boundaries of typically recognized on an international level; however, are subject to contention.

Topographical Map

• Shows the physical features of a region, such as rivers and elevation

Major Landforms

• 1.) Mountains

• 2.) Hills

• 3.) Plains

• 4.) Plateaus

1.) Mountains

• High, steep, and rugged land that rises above surrounding land.

• Vary in elevation.• All mountains are at least 2,000 feet above

sea level.• List 2 mountain ranges• 1.• 2.

2.) Hills

• Areas of raised land, but they are lower and less steep than mountains.

• Larger populations than mountains

• Agricultural activities are easier than mountains.

3.) Plains

• Large areas of fairly level or gently rolling land.

• Low elevation.

• Larger populations than mountains or hills.

• Better agricultural possibilities than the three other features.

4.) Plateaus

• Large areas of high, flat or gently rolling land.

• Elevations vary 100s to 1000s of feet above sea level.

• Possibility for good farming.

• Populations will vary.

Climate Zones

• Climate: is the average weather a place has over a period of 20 to 30 years.

• Factors:– Location– Elevation

• Review chart on pg. 12

Review questions

• What type of projection map is most common today?

• What are 2 factors that influence a climate zone?• What is a major drawback of a Peters projection

map?• What distinguishes a plateau from a hill.• What is more common in Western PA hills or

plains?