Deck 2: Energy and Matter in the Atmosphere

Question 1

Electromagnetic radiation

A)is composed of interacting electrical and magnetic fields.
B)is visible in all its forms.
C)radiates out in confined planes or straight lines.
D)is composed entirely of waves.

Answer 1

A

Question 2

What atmospheric layer is the home of weather,has the greatest density of gas molecules,and has a decrease in temperature with height?

A)Thermosphere
B)Mesosphere
C)Stratosphere
D)Troposphere

Answer 2

D

Question 3

When making macaroni and cheese,you notice the noodles rising and falling in the boiling water.This is best explained through the process of

A)conduction.
B)convection.
C)radiation.
D)advection.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Which of the following is true regarding phase changes?

A)Energy is released when going from higher to lower energy state.
B)Energy is required to go from a higher to lower energy state.
C)All phase changes involve the release of energy.
D)All phase changes require energy absorption.

Question 5

The most common gas in the atmosphere is

A)oxygen (O₂).
B)carbon dioxide (CO₂).
C)nitrogen (N₂).
D)methane (CH₄).

Question 6

The mercury thermometer operates on the principle of

A)liquid expansion and contraction.
B)energy emission from a surface.
C)thermoelectric principles.

Question 7

Which of the following objects is best at absorption of incoming light and the emission of heat?

A)A
B)B
C)C
D)D

Question 8

Which of the following involves energy storage in the water molecule in the form of latent heat?

A)Melting,evaporation,sublimation
B)Freezing,condensation,deposition
C)Melting,freezing,condensation,deposition
D)Condensation,evaporation,deposition,sublimation

Question 9

Burning the bottom of your feet burned when walking on hot beach sand is due to

A)conduction.
B)convection.
C)radiation.
D)advection.

Question 10

Which of the following involves the release of latent heat back into the environment?

A)Evaporation
B)Deposition
C)Melting
D)Sublimation

Question 11

All of the following will warm the local environment except

A)deposition.
B)evaporation.
C)freezing.
D)condensation.

Question 12

All of the following involve the input of energy except.

A)melting.
B)evaporation.
C)freezing.
D)sublimation.

Question 13

The surface temperatures of a metal plate,piece of wood,and piece of plastic were measured with an infrared thermometer.The surrounding air was 20°C.Which object's surface recorded the lowest temperature?

A)Metal plate
B)Wood
C)Plastic
D)All measured the same.

Question 14

Which of the following images represents matter in the gaseous state,with the greatest kinetic energy?

A)A
B)B
C)C

Question 15

Which of the following objects would be best at scattering light?

A)A
B)B
C)C
D)D

Question 16

The speed with which an electromagnetic wave travels is its

A)plane of magnetic component.
B)frequency.
C)wavelength.
D)amplitude.

Question 17

The only temperature scale that relates changes in internal energy to the absolute amount of heat gained or lost by a system is the

A)Fahrenheit scale.
B)Celsius scale.
C)Centigrade scale.
D)Kelvin scale.

Question 18

Potential energy would best be expressed when

A)pulling or pushing an object.
B)atoms moving at 200 km/hr.
C)atoms moving at 500 km/hr.
D)changing a liquid to a gas.

Question 19

From this graph,one should conclude that

A)most of the energy input into the system goes toward changing temperature,not changing state.
B)most of the energy input into the system goes toward a more ordered,rigid,molecular structure.
C)none of these options are correct.
D)most of the energy input into the system goes toward changing state,not changing temperature.

Question 20

Which of the following temperature combinations are correct for the freezing point of water,room temperature,and the boiling point of water?

A)32°,77°,273
B)0°,77°,373
C)32°,298°,373
D)273,298,373

Question 21

Which of the following is true regarding the relationship between molecular motion,wavelength,and temperature?

A)As the temperature decreases,molecular motion increases and wavelength increases.
B)As the temperature increases,molecular motion increases and wavelength decreases.
C)As the temperature decreases,molecular motion decreases and wavelength decreases.
D)As the temperature increases,molecular motion decreases and wavelength decreases.

Question 22

During the June solstice,the circle of illumination completely shades out

A)points south of the Antarctic Circle but completely illuminates points north of the Arctic Circle.
B)points north of the Arctic Circle but completely illuminates points south of the Antarctic Circle.
C)points south of the Arctic Circle but completely illuminates points north of the Antarctic Circle.
D)points north of the Antarctic Circle but completely illuminates points south of the Arctic Circle.

Question 23

As one approaches the poles,the Sun angle ________ and atmosphere attenuation ________.

A)increases; increases
B)decreases; decreases
C)increases; decreases
D)decreases; increases

Question 24

Which of the letters represents the summer solstice for the Northern Hemisphere?

A)A
B)B
C)C
D)D

Question 25

As one approaches the equator,the Sun angle ________ and the atmosphere attenuation ________.

A)increases; increases
B)decreases; decreases
C)increases; decreases
D)decreases; increases

Question 26

On June 21,which location will be receiving 24 hours of daylight?

A)Antarctic Circle
B)Tropic of Cancer
C)Tropic of Capricorn
D)Arctic Circle

Question 27

The solar constant is

A)a consistent amount of energy received at the top of the atmosphere.
B)the same for a sphere or for a circle.
C)only about a quarter of all energy emitted by the sun.
D)the same value for all planets,even Neptune.

Question 28

North America is farthest from the Sun during

A)perihelion,which occurs in early July.
B)perihelion,which occurs in early January.
C)aphelion,which occurs in early July.
D)aphelion,which occurs in early January.

Question 29

On March 21,the sun will be directly overhead at

A)A.
B)B.
C)C.
D)D.

Question 30

Which of the following letters represents when the sun is directly overhead at the Tropic of Capricorn?

A)A
B)B
C)C
D)D

Question 31

Which color portion of the visible spectrum emits the lowest amount of energy?

A)Red
B)Yellow
C)Green
D)Blue

Question 32

Compare the amount of energy emitted as a function of temperature (K).The amount of energy emitted from 200 to 600 K is ________ while the amount of energy emitted from 600 to 1000 K is ________.

A)0 W/m2; 650 W/m2
B)73 W/m2; 727 W/m2
C)100 W/m2; 550 W/m2
D)200 W/m2; 600 W/m2

Question 33

Electromagnetic radiation is generated from all of the following except

A)the joining together of protons and neutrons through fusion.
B)molecules' electrons and bonds that vibrate.
C)changes in the energy level of the electron.
D)unconfined waves that radiate out in all directions.

Question 34

Polar regions receive

A)minimum variation in solar isolation and high Sun angles.
B)maximum variation in solar isolation and high Sun angles.
C)minimal variation in solar isolation and low Sun angles.
D)maximum variation in solar isolation and low Sun angles.

Question 35

As the Sun angle ________,the amount of energy reaching the surface ________.

A)increases; increases
B)increases; decreases
C)increases or decreases; remains constant

Question 36

The height of an electromagnetic wave it its

A)plane of electrical component.
B)frequency.
C)amplitude.
D)wavelength.

Question 37

North America is closest to the Sun,during

A)perihelion,which occurs in early July.
B)perihelion,which occurs in early January.
C)aphelion,which occurs in early July.
D)aphelion,which occurs in early January.

Question 38

Which of the following types of electromagnetic radiation are arranged in the proper decreasing order of energy?

A)Infrared,x rays,AM radio
B)Microwaves,ultraviolet,green light
C)Radio waves,gamma rays,ultraviolet
D)Blue light,infrared,AM radio

Question 39

An object emits a range of electromagnetic energy wavelengths because

A)not all molecules vibrate at the same speed.
B)relativity theory states that objects attain varying terminal velocities.
C)lowest and highest vibration rates are cancelled.
D)all molecules vibrate at the same rate.

Question 40

All of the following are true regarding sunspot activity except

A)solar flares are more common with maximum sunspot activity.
B)the Little Ice Age occurred when there was a minimum of sunspot activity.
C)there is,on average,an 11-year cycle for sunspot cycles.
D)more sunspot activity means less overall energy emitted from the sun.

Question 41

Which of the following processes is primarily responsible for the sky's blue color?

A)Absorption
B)Scattering
C)Reflection
D)Filtering

Question 42

Which of the following correctly tallies the earth's shortwave-radiation balance?

A)planetary albedo - 4%,atmospheric absorption - 31%,surface absorption - 65%
B)planetary albedo - 10 %,atmospheric absorption - 20%,surface absorption - 70%
C)planetary albedo - 31%,atmospheric absorption - 20%,surface absorption - 49%
D)planetary albedo - 70%,atmospheric absorption - 20%,surface absorption - 10%

Question 43

Ozone can be created by all of the following processes except

A)sunlight acting on hydrocarbons.
B)scattering by UV-B and UV-C radiation.
C)lightning during thunderstorms.
D)UV-C radiation in stratosphere.

Question 44

Most energy entering the earth's atmosphere is between ________ and ________ microns while most of the thermal infrared energy emitted from the earth is between ________ and ________ microns

A)20; 40; 40; 60
B)8; 13; 20; 40
C)0.1; 0.4; 8; 13
D)0.4; 0.7; 8; 20

Question 45

On what day does the Sun have its highest Sun angle and sets/rises farthest north?

A)Winter solstice
B)Spring equinox
C)Fall equinox
D)Summer solstice

Question 46

Which two layers of the atmosphere experience temperature inversion?

A)Troposphere and stratosphere
B)Stratosphere and mesosphere
C)Thermosphere and stratosphere
D)Thermosphere and mesosphere

Question 47

Which of the following surfaces has the lowest albedo?

A)A - fresh snow
B)B - forests
C)C - orchards
D)D - water with a small zenith

Question 48

On equinox,

A)points north of the Arctic Circle receive 24 hours of daylight
B)tilt is neither inclined toward or away from the sun
C)points south of the Antarctic receive 24 hours of daylight
D)points north of the Arctic Circle and Antarctic Circle receive 24 hours of darkness

Question 49

Ozone thinning is

A)greatest in the Northern Hemisphere in October.
B)greatest in the Southern Hemisphere in April.
C)evenly distributed for most of the year.
D)more pronounced in Antarctica than the Arctic.

Question 50

In regard to the shortwave energy entering the earth's atmosphere,most is

A)used to heat either the atmosphere or the ground surface.
B)lost into space by scattering and reflection.
C)used for sensible heat flux.
D)used for latent heat flux.

Question 51

Ozone

A)is formed mainly in the troposphere where it diffuses to the stratosphere.
B)is only formed through natural processes.
C)is destroyed by halogens in chlorofluorocarbons.
D)is only destroyed through natural processes.

Question 52

Which ranges for incoming light and UV radiation would be absorbed and scattered the most?

A)0.2−0.3 microns
B)0.3−0.4 microns
C)0.4−0.5 microns
D)0.5−0.7 microns

Question 53

The ________ experiences a temperature ________ primarily due to the absorption of ________.

A)troposphere; decrease; ultraviolet rays
B)ozone; increase; gamma rays and x rays
C)stratosphere; decrease; ultraviolet rays
D)thermosphere; increase; gamma rays and x rays

Question 54

All of the following is true regarding shortwave radiation that reaches the earth's surface except

A)the earth's atmosphere can be heated by latent heat released through condensation,freezing,and deposition.
B)heating of the atmosphere by insolation is more effective than heating of the atmosphere by land and water.
C)some shortwave radiation is absorbed by ozone molecules in the stratosphere and converted to sensible heat.
D)shortwave radiation is absorbed by the surface and then radiated as longwave radiation where it can later be directed downward by counterradiation.

Question 55

What is the approximate percentage of insolation arriving at the top of the atmosphere that is absorbed by the ground?

A)20%
B)40%
C)50%
D)70%

Question 56

During December solstice,the

A)entire area poleward of the Antarctic Circle remains out of sunlight.
B)entire area poleward of the Tropic of Capricorn remains out of sunlight.
C)entire area poleward of the Arctic Circle remains out of sunlight.
D)entire area poleward of the Tropic of Cancer remains out of sunlight.

Question 57

The most common component of the atmosphere is

A)nitrogen.
B)carbon dioxide.
C)particulates.
D)aerosols.

Question 58

The most important greenhouse gas for retaining a variety of outgoing longwave radiation is

A)CH₄.
B)N₂O.
C)H₂O.
D)CO₂.

Question 59

Ozone consists of ________ molecules of oxygen,is found primarily in the ________ and protects us from ________.

A)three,stratosphere; ultraviolet rays
B)two; troposphere; cosmic rays
C)two; stratosphere; x rays and gamma rays
D)two; troposphere; meteors

Question 60

The atmosphere is mainly transparent to this form of ultraviolet radiation?

A)UV-C
B)UV-B
C)UV-A
D)The atmosphere is equally transparent to UV-A,UV-B,and UV-C radiation.

Question 61

Which location has the longest period of continuous darkness?

A)A
B)B
C)C
D)D

Question 62

Oceans heat and cool more slowly than land because of

A)oceans' lack of transparency dampens temperature changes.
B)great amounts of latent heat available to directly warm ocean water.
C)oceans' high specific heat dampens temperature changes.
D)lack of mixing through the water column.

Question 63

In the Chapter 2 Investigation (Evaluating Solar Energy),which of the following is the most important factor to consider?

A)Whether the site was in the Northern Hemisphere or Southern Hemisphere
B)The latitude of the sites
C)The longitude of the sites
D)Which time zone a site is in

Question 64

The earth's radiation balance involves

A)conduction and convection emitting energy directly into space.
B)most energy emitted directly into space with no interaction with the atmosphere.
C)most energy leaving the earth in the form of longwave radiation.
D)energy being radiated only upward into space.

Question 65

All of the following is true regarding the earth's radiation balance except

A)the sun heats the earth's surface more than it does the atmosphere.
B)sensible heat flux is the predominant process for the loss of outgoing longwave radiation.
C)almost half the energy received by the earth's surface is returned to the atmosphere through latent heat flux.
D)sensible and latent heat flux together carry most of the energy stored at the surface into the atmosphere.

Question 66

Without greenhouse gases,earth's temperature would be

A)68°C.
B)15°C.
C)0°C.
D)-18°C.

Question 67

Which location is found at the lowest latitude?

A)A
B)B
C)C
D)D

Question 68

Which of the following was NOT discussed in the opening two-page spread of the Energy and Matter chapter?

A)Sunlight
B)Tropical regions
C)Clouds
D)Seasons
E)All of these choices are correct

Question 69

Base the following questions on the climographs and insolation graphs below.Letters represent a location where the climograph and insolation graph were recorded.
Which location is found at the highest latitude?

A)A
B)B
C)C
D)D

Question 70

All of the following is true in regard to the earth's radiation balance except

A)at around 35°,incoming insolation is roughly balanced with outgoing longwave radiation.
B)poleward of 35° regions emit more outgoing longwave radiation than they receive as insolation.
C)outgoing longwave radiation increases poleward in regular increments,peaking at the poles.
D)equator,tropics,and subtropics receive more insolation than what they emit as outgoing longwave radiation.

Question 71

Which of the following locations would experience a slight radiative energy deficit?

A)A
B)B
C)C
D)D

Question 72

Which of the water columns would experience the greatest temperature differences with depth?

A)A
B)B
C)C

Question 73

Which location is found in the midlatitudes?

A)A
B)B
C)C
D)D

Question 74

Land heats and cools more rapidly than the ocean because of its

A)lower specific heat when compared to the ocean.
B)ability for land to retain heat better than the ocean.
C)strong mixing through soil horizons on land.
D)great potential for latent heat on land through evaporation.

Question 75

In the Chapter 2 Investigation (Evaluating Solar Energy),which site had the most limited potential for solar energy generation?

A)Galápagos
B)Macapá
C)La Serena
D)Mar Chiquita
E)Ushuaia

Question 76

Where is the least and greatest amount of outgoing longwave radiation (OLR)located?

A)A and B
B)A and C
C)A and D
D)C and D

Question 77

Land heats and cools more rapidly than oceans because of

A)land's great transparency encourages temperature changes.
B)abundance of latent heat available to directly warm land.
C)land's high specific heat encourages temperature changes.
D)lack of mixing in soil or rock layers.

Question 78

In the Chapter 2 Investigation (Evaluating Solar Energy),which of the following factors did you evaluate when considering the suitability of a site for solar energy generation?

A)Its location with respect to the equator
B)Sun angle
C)The percentage of solar energy available
D)Outgoing longwave radiation flux
E)All of these choices are correct

Question 79

Where do the highest amounts of insolation reach the surface based on more absorption and less scattering?

A)A
B)B
C)C
D)D

Question 80

In the Chapter 2 Investigation (Evaluating Solar Energy),which of the following is true about the downward shortwave radiation flux near South America?

A)It was relatively constant as a function of latitude
B)It was relatively constant as a function of longitude
C)It was affected by ocean currents and topography
D)It did not vary much from place to place