Rural population

Rural population refers to the portion of a country’s population that resides in rural areas, which are typically defined as areas outside of urban centers, cities, and towns. Rural areas are characterized by lower population densities, agricultural activities, and a greater reliance on natural resources for livelihoods.




The definition of rural population can vary depending on the country, as different countries may have different definitions and criteria for what constitutes a rural area. In general, rural populations tend to be more dispersed, have lower levels of income and education, and have limited access to healthcare and other basic services compared to urban populations.

In many developing countries, a significant portion of the population lives in rural areas and depends on agriculture for their livelihoods. The rural population is often composed of small-scale farmers, agricultural laborers, and other rural workers engaged in activities such as forestry, fishing, and mining.

RELATED POSTS

What are the four challenges to be noted when using a divergent bar graph?

When using a divergent bar graph, several challenges need to be considered. Here are four challenges to be noted:

Misinterpretation of the Baseline

One challenge is the potential for misinterpretation of the baseline in a divergent bar graph.

Since the baseline represents the zero value, any bar that extends below the baseline indicates a negative value, while a bar extending above the baseline indicates a positive value.

However, if the baseline is not clearly labeled or if the scale is not accurately represented, it can lead to confusion and misinterpretation of the data.

challenges to be noted when using a divergent bar graph

Difficulty in Comparing Individual Values

While a divergent bar graph is effective for comparing positive and negative values as a whole, it can be challenging to compare individual values within each category.

The overlapping nature of the bars and the divergence from the baseline can make it difficult to accurately assess the magnitude of differences between individual data points.

Complexity with Multiple Categories

Divergent bar graphs become more complex when multiple categories or variables are included.

As the number of categories increases, the graph can become crowded and visually overwhelming, making it harder to interpret and compare the data accurately.

Additionally, the use of different colors or patterns for each category can also pose challenges in ensuring clear differentiation and avoiding confusion.

Limited Applicability

Divergent bar graphs are best suited for representing data with positive and negative values or data that involves contrasting variables.

However, they may not be suitable for all types of data or research questions. In cases where the data does not have clear opposing variables or where the focus is on other aspects such as trends over time or comparisons between unrelated variables, alternative graph types may be more appropriate.

It is important to be aware of these challenges when using a divergent bar graph and to address them appropriately to ensure accurate and meaningful data representation and interpretation.

RELATED POSTS

Isostasy Principle Explained

Isostasy is the principle that explains how the Earth’s crust and upper mantle float on the denser underlying material.




Isostasy Principle Explained

It states that the crust and upper mantle will adjust to changes in mass distribution so that the surface is always in equilibrium, meaning that the total weight of the material above a certain point is equal to the total weight of the material below it.

This principle helps to explain why mountain ranges rise up and why ocean basins form. It also plays a role in the movement of tectonic plates and the formation of earthquakes.

For example, if a large amount of material is added to the Earth’s surface, like during the formation of a mountain range, the lithosphere will be pushed downward into the asthenosphere due to the increased load. Over time, the lithosphere will slowly rebound upward as the underlying asthenosphere flows and adjusts to the new load distribution. This vertical movement is known as isostatic uplift.




Conversely, if material is removed from the Earth’s surface, such as through erosion or melting of glaciers, the lithosphere will rebound upward due to the reduced load. This is known as isostatic subsidence.

The isostasy principle helps explain phenomena such as the formation of mountains, the sinking of coastal areas due to the melting of ice sheets, and the gradual rebound of land after the removal of large glacial loads.

In summary, the isostasy principle describes the gravitational equilibrium between Earth’s lithosphere and asthenosphere, and the vertical adjustments of the crust in response to changes in load or mass distribution. It is an important concept in understanding the dynamic behavior of Earth’s crust and the processes shaping the Earth’s surface.

RELATED POSTS

Giving example of each, describe the classification of lakes according to their origin

Lakes may be classified according to the mode of origin of the hollows which contain their waters.




These include the following categories: by earth movement, by erosion, by deposition, by volcanic activity and artificially by man.

  • Earth movements cause lake formation when there is subsidence or warping of the land. Hollows or depression so
    formed in the earth’s crust may contain water and hence lakes. This is most easily seen in rift valleys. Example of a
    rift valley lake is Tanganyika while a good example of a down warped lake is Lake Victoria.
  • Erosional lakes are as a result of different erosional activities. E.g. Ice sheets and valley glaciers may scoop out
    hollows to form a basin and when water collects it create a lake known as tarns, cirque lake or ribbon lake.
  • Lakes produced by deposition. Barriers across a river valley hold back the water which forms a lake. Again Oxbow
    lake (e.g. Lake Kanyaboli) are formed from the meanders of rivers. The deposition of silt at the two ends of ‘Ox-bow’ closes the channel between the main river and its old loop. Last, sometimes large estuaries are partially filled with silt. In the portions not so filled are large shallow lagoons (lakes).
  • Lakes produced by vulcanicity. They lakes are often formed by the accumulation of water in the crater of extinct
    volcanoes. The best example is Lake Toba in northern Sumatra whereas a local example in Kenya is Lake Simbi in
    Nyanza province.




  • Man-made lakes. These are lakes that are deliberately formed by building a dam across a river valley for the
    purpose of generating hydroelectricity and/or for irrigation.

RELATED POSTS

State the causes of earthquakes

  • Some earthquakes are due to volcanic explosions.
  • Majority of earthquakes and severe ones are due to faulting.
  • Earthquake are also caused by the collision of tectonic plates.




  • Other earthquakes are due to folding which cause stress on rocks.
  • Man’s action such as the use of explosives e.g. in mining may also earthquakes.
  • Other earthquakes are caused by isostatic adjustment and gravitative pressure.

State and explain the evidence for the continental drift theory

  • Topographic evidence; for example the Jigsaw of the continents. South Africa fits into Africa so well.
  • Geological evidence; there is a close structural resemblance and many geological similarities especially between the the eastern coast of South America and the western coast of Africa.




  • Tectonic evidence; the distribution of Fold Mountains and volcanic zones which are comparable from one side of the ocean to the other.
  • Climatological evidence; only continental drift can account for the apparent reversals of climate that have glacial
    deposits in the Congo Basin and other parts within the tropics.
  • Biological evidence; this evidence is based on the study of fossils showing the distribution of plants and animals in
    the past compared with the present day distribution of certain plants and animal species whose occurrence seems
    quite inexplicable unless continental drifting is invoked.
  • Palaeo-magnetism evidence; This is the most influential evidence of continental drift. When rocks solidify, they
    are magnetised in the direction of magnetic North at that time. By studying the magnetism of ancient rocks, it is
    possible therefore determine the where on the surface they were originally formed.

RELATED POSTS

Plate tectonics

The term Plate Tectonics refers to the theory that explains the major geological structures of the earth in terms of
the relative movements of rigid crystal blocks or plates of lithospheres across the partially fluid Asthenosphere