Deck 3: Earth-Sun Relationships and Solar Energy

Question 1

The energy emitted by the Sun comes from ____ taking place in the Sun's core. ​

A)fission reactions ​
B)antimatter annihilation
C)fusion reactions
D)photochemical reactions
E)frictional heating

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Collectively, gamma rays, X-rays, ultraviolet rays, visible light, and near-infrared energy are known as longwave radiation.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

Earth moves around the Sun in a perfectly circular orbit.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

Although Pluto was once designated the ninth planet, it has been reclassified as a(n)____. ​

A)rogue planet
B)comet
C)dwarf planet
D)asteroid
E)gas planet

Question 5

The distance of Earth from the Sun plays a major role in the determination of the seasons.

Question 6

The five closest planets to the Sun (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, and Jupiter)are called the terrestrial planets.

Question 7

Earth's solar constant is greater than Jupiter's solar constant. ​

Question 8

A(n)____ can be defined as all heavenly bodies surrounding a particular star because of the star's dominant mass and gravity. ​

A)ecliptic
B)galaxy ​
C)spectrum ​
D)perihelion
E)solar system

Question 9

The changing distance between Earth and the Sun has virtually no relationship to the seasons.

Question 10

At 10° north, the Sun angle will reach 90° at some time during the year.

Question 11

A(n)____ is a body that survives the fall through the atmosphere and strikes Earth's surface. ​

A)meteor ​
B)meteorite
C)asteroid
D)comet
E)satellite

Question 12

Earth intercepts nearly all of the radiation given off by the Sun.

Question 13

The solstice only occurs once a year.

Question 14

Visible light is electromagnetic energy.

Question 15

For part of the year at the South Pole, each day contains zero hours of sunlight.

Question 16

The period of time it takes Earth to make one revolution about the Sun is about 365 days.

Question 17

The more oblique the angle at which the Sun's rays strike Earth, the greater the intensity of energy per unit acre.

Question 18

Earth is considered a ____. ​

A)terrestrial planet
B)gas planet
C)giant planet
D)asteroid
E)Kuiper planet

Question 19

Averaged over the year, high latitudes receive less insolation than low latitudes.

Question 20

On the Spring and Fall Equinoxes, the noon sun will be at 90° (directly overhead)at the equator. ​

Question 21

On September 22, the length of daylight is ____. ​

A)at a maximum in the Southern Hemisphere
B)at a minimum in the Southern Hemisphere
C)equal in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres
D)at a maximum in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres
E)at a minimum in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres

Question 22

On June 21, which of these locations has the longest day?

A)Murmansk, USSR (69 ° N)
B)Omaha, Nebraska (41 ° N)
C)Kontiala, Mali (12.5 ° N)​
D)Nairobi, Kenya (1° S)
E)Montevideo, Uruguay (35 ° S)

Question 23

The point on Earth's orbit around the Sun when the two bodies are farthest apart is called ____.

A)perihelion
B)aphelion
C)ecliptic
D)equinox
E)solstice

Question 24

The Northern Hemisphere of Earth is closest to the Sun in ____.

A)January ​
B)April
C)June
D)August
E)October

Question 25

The latitude at which the noon Sun is directly overhead is known as the solar ____. ​

A)declination
B)insolation
C)perihelion
D)analemma
E)axis of inclination

Question 26

As defined by the International Astronomical Union in 2006, a(n)____ is a celestial body in orbit around the Sun, with sufficient gravitational attraction to overcome rigid body forces, has a nearly spherical shape, and has cleared the neighborhood around its orbit. ​

A)satellite
B)comet
C)asteroid
D)planet
E)meteor

Question 27

Heat represents energy in which part of the electromagnetic spectrum? ​

A)ultraviolet
B)near-infrared
C)thermal infrared
D)microwave
E)x-ray

Question 28

At solar noon, the Sun reaches its ____. ​

A)aphelion
B)perihelion
C)analemma
D)equinox
E)zenith

Question 29

As Earth revolves around the Sun, Earth's axis remains parallel to its former positions. What is this characteristic called? ​

A)repeated inclination
B)parallelism
C)true bearing
D)angle of incidence
E)ecliptic

Question 30

Together, the intensity and ____ of solar radiation are two major factors that influence the warming and cooling of places on Earth during the days and over the seasons.

A)brightness
B)acceleration
C)polarity
D)temperature
E)duration

Question 31

Earth's velocity of rotation is at its maximum at the ____. ​

A)poles
B)Arctic/Antarctic circles
C)tropics
D)equator
E)mid-latitude zone

Question 32

Solar radiation is considered ____. ​

A)longwave radiation
B)medium wave radiation
C)shortwave radiation
D)ultra-shortwave
E)sub-wave radiation

Question 33

The longest wavelength of visible light is associated with which color? ​

A)blue
B)red
C)yellow
D)violet
E)green

Question 34

What is an analemma used for? ​

A)plotting the movement of Earth around the Sun
B)determining the amount of incoming solar radiation
C)estimating the circumference of Earth
D)showing the declination of the Sun throughout the year
E)estimating the curvature of the Earth

Question 35

In the mid-latitude zone of the Southern Hemisphere, minimum insolation occurs on ____. ​

A)March 21
B)June 21
C)August 22
D)September 22
E)December 21

Question 36

The motion of the Earth, the Sun, and the entire solar system in an orbit around the center of the Milky Way Galaxy is known as ____. ​

A)rotation
B)cosmic movement
C)galactic movement
D)revolution
E)ecliptic drift

Question 37

The constant path that Earth travels in its orbit around the Sun describes a surface called the plane of the ____. ​

A)equinox
B)inclination
C)ecliptic
D)declination
E)perihelion

Question 38

Earth's rotational axis is inclined ____ off of being perpendicular to the plane of the ecliptic. ​

A)12.5 degrees
B)23.5 degrees
C)32.5 degrees
D)44.5 degrees
E)66.5 degrees

Question 39

Charged particles (mainly protons and electrons)from the Sun can flow along lines of the Sun's magnetic field millions of miles into space in what is called the ____. ​

A)corona
B)aurora australis
C)solar wind
D)solar constant
E)longwave radiation

Question 40

Electromagnetic energy can have a range of varying wavelengths across the ____. ​

A)solar constant
B)electromagnetic spectrum
C)ecliptic
D)electromagnetic longwave
E)circle of illumination

Question 41

The _______________ equinox occurs on or about September 22.

Question 42

How can you use your knowledge of how the Sun's angle changes over the year and passive solar energy to save on heating and cooling bills in your home?

Question 43

How would Earth's climate be different if the axis of rotation was exactly perpendicular to the plane of the ecliptic?

Question 44

Earth's tilt away from being perpendicular is called the angle of _______________.

Question 45

Explain why Earth is warmer at the equator than at the poles.

Question 46

A(n)_______________ is the quantity of energy required to raise the temperature of 1 gallon of water 1°C.

Question 47

Solar radiation received by the Earth system is called _______________, which is short for "incoming solar radiation".

Question 48

A(n)_______________ is a celestial body that revolves around a star and reflects the star's light rather than producing its own.

Question 49

In the Southern Hemisphere, June 21 is the _______________ solstice.

Question 50

The term for the two days of the year when the circle of illumination crosses the equator at right angles to provide 12 hours of daylight at every spot on the globe is _______________.

Question 51

What is the significance of the Tropic of Cancer, 23.5°N latitude?

Question 52

Visible on the photosphere of the sun, _______________ appear as dark regions that are about 1500°C to 2000°C (2700°F to 3600°F)cooler than the temperatures of the surrounding areas.

Question 53

Explain how Eratosthenes used the rays of the Sun to estimate the circumference of Earth and to demonstrate that the planet was spherical.

Question 54

During the _______________ solstice, the Arctic Circle experiences 24 hours of darkness.

Question 55

A(n)_______________ is a cluster of stars, dust, and gases surrounded by space, and is like an enormous island in the universe.

Question 56

The color _______________ is associated with the shortest wavelength of visible light.

Question 57

The _______________ marks the northernmost migration of the Sun's vertical rays. (three words)

Question 58

The term used to describe the period during which Earth reaches its farthest point from the Sun is _______________.

Question 59

Sunspot numbers vary over a cycle roughly _______________ years long.

Question 60

Because a year actually contains 365.25 days, an extra day (February 29)is added every fourth year, which is called a(n)_______________ year.