Consequences of Population Distribution (College Board AP® Human Geography): Flashcards

Carrying capacity refers to the maximum population size the environment can support.

Overpopulation occurs when there are not sufficient resources in a given area to support the population.

Higher-population areas have more voters concentrated in a smaller area and therefore more representatives in government, so their opinions weigh more heavily on policy.

Areas with higher population densities have a greater concentration of jobs and bring in more revenue.

Areas with higher population densities have greater access to education, health care, and entertainment, as well as government services and better infrastructure.

Building infrastructure is more cost-effective for high-population areas due to economies of scale.

False.

Urban slums and squatter settlements, though high in population, do not have adequate access to government services.

Carrying capacity differs by environment because more productive land supports more people; for example, an area with very fertile soil has a higher carrying capacity than an area with limited agricultural land.

Locations with high population densities tend to have greater effects on the natural environment, having a greater impact on the landscape as populations increase.

A population may stabilize at the carrying capacity, or it may overshoot the carrying capacity and then decline repeatedly.