114) Remote sensing is
A) a subjective determination of temperature.
B) the monitoring of a distant object without physical contact.
C) an earthbound technique not used in modern satellites.
D) based on the principle that surfaces must be physically handled and directly measured for
study.
115) Which of the following satellite remote sensing platforms was launched in 2013?
A) Goes-12
B) Landsat 8
C) Radarsat-1
D) Topex Poseidon
116) A satellite imaging system that beams electromagnetic energy at the surface and then
records the energy that is reflected is classified as a(n) ________ system.
A) active
B) passive
C) photographic
D) holographic
117) Which of the following is an example of an active remote sensing device?
A) film
B) infrared sensor
C) video camera
D) LiDAR
118) Which of the following is false?
A) GIS stands for geographic information system.
B) Satellite weather images are an example of remote sensing.
C) GIS represents an important planning tool.
D) A GIS model does not require the use of a map.
119) Which of the following best describes Geographic Information Systems?
A) A constellation of satellites for accurately determining location anywhere near the Earth’s
surface.
B) Deriving accurate measurements from photographs.
C) Acquiring information about objects without having physical contact with them.
D) Computer-based tool for management and analysis of geographic information.
120) The techniques of adjusting geospatial datasets in real time to make changes to maps and
other visual models is called
A) remote sensing.
B) geographic information systems.
C) geovisualization.
D) GPS.
121) Which of the following best describes geographic information science (GISci)?
A) Techniques for adjusting geospatial datasets in real time.
B) Deriving accurate measurements from photographs.
C) Field that develops the capabilities of GIS for use within geography and other disciplines.
D) Computer-based tool for management and analysis of geographic information.
1.2 True/False Questions
1) Geography is a discipline primarily concerned with place names.
2) The essential approach in geographic studies is spatial analysis.
3) Areas that display a degree of uniformity are called regions.
4) Migration and diffusion across the Earth’s surface is described under the principal geographic
theme of movement.
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5) Pure science frequently involves the making of value judgments about the moral or political
correctness of a fact, idea, or theory.
6) Scientific theories are capable of generating testing predictions.
7) Because scientific ideas are tested, they can be corrected when they are wrong.
8) The geographic theme of place refers to absolute and relative position on Earth.
9) Conditions that change in an experiment or model are called variables.
10) Positive feedback tends to amplify or encourage response in system operations.
11) Negative feedback tends to stabilize a system.
12) The “balance of nature” that characterizes well-functioning ecosystems occurs because of
predominantly positive feedback mechanisms.
13) A model is essentially a simplification of natural systems.
14) Geodesy is the science concerned with the size and shape of the Earth.
15) Photosynthesis in a plant leaf is an example of an open-system operation.
16) Longitude measures distances east or west of a prime meridian on Earth’s surface.
17) Latitude is the angular distance measured north or south of the equator from the center of
Earth and it describes a parallel line on the surface.
18) “Longitude” is the name of an angle, and “meridian” is the name of an imaginary line that
connects all points along the same longitude.
19) Latitude is easily determined using celestial objects whereas longitude is not easily
calculated in such a manner and requires time-keeping devices.
20) Observers in the southern hemisphere use the North Star (Polaris) to determine their latitude.
21) Clocks that operated without a pendulum had to be invented before longitude at sea could be
calculated.
22) Coordinated Universal Time is the present name for world standard time.
23) The prime meridian and the 180th meridian are opposite halves of the same great circle.
24) A meridian is 360° in length.
25) All parallels are 360° in length.
26) The day officially changes on Earth at the prime meridian.
27) If it is July 3rd in Tokyo (139° E), it is July 4th in Los Angeles (118° W).
28) When Daylight Saving Time is in effect, clocks “spring forward” one hour in the Spring
(Example: 1:00 A.M. becomes 2:00 A.M.) and “fall back” one hour in the Fall (Example: 2:00
A.M. becomes 1:00 A.M.).
29) A great circle route is the shortest distance between any two points on Earth’s surface.
30) There are 48 time zones, each approximately 7.5° in width.
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31) A map scale of 1:24,000 is considered a small scale as compared to a scale of 1:20,900,000,
which is considered a large scale.
32) A large scale map shows a large area, but with less detail than a small scale map.
33) The globe is the only map that accurately portrays all spatial relationships characteristic of
Earth’s surface.
34) An equivalent map projection preserves true shape.
35) A Mercator projection preserves area of all poleward geographic features.
36) A standard parallel is a line of tangency.
37) Maps that are intended to show spatial distributions should be based on projections that
minimize area distortion, rather than shape distortion.
38) A rhumb line is a line of constant direction (crosses all meridians at the same angle).
39) A sensor that measures the emitted radiation of an object is an example of passive remote
sensing.
40) The Landsat series of satellites is an example of passive remote sensing.
41) GIS use satellites to find locations precisely.
42) GIS can create dynamic maps for visualization purposes.
43) LiDAR is an example of passive remote sensing.
44) A geographic information system is unable to create maps with a three-dimensional
perspective.
45) Global positioning systems, while useful in navigation, have little utility in physical
geography.
1) List the five principal themes of modern geographic education.
2) Briefly describe the difference between a system and a model.
3) What are the Earth’s abiotic and biotic systems?
4) Describe the differences between matter and energy.
5) What is geodesy?
6) What is a great circle? What are small circles?
7) What are the four classes of map projections?
8) What are the three primary methods of expressing scale on maps?
1) Why is the term “spatial” so important in geography?
2) Describe what distinguishes physical geography from human and cultural geography.
3) Follow the scientific method from the initial perception of phenomena to a general theory
about the phenomena.
4) What is a hypothesis? How does it differ from a theory?
5) Use examples to distinguish an open system from a closed system.
6) Use examples to distinguish positive and negative feedback loops.
7) How can feedback affect a system? Give examples of positive and negative feedback.
8) List and briefly describe Earth’s four spheres.
9) What is GPS? Give several examples of its utility in physical geography.
10) Distinguish between active and passive remote sensing, and describe the applications of
each.
11) What is a geographic information system? What are some potential GIS applications?