Deck 17: Atmospheric Optics Online Only in Masteringmeteorology

Question 1

Being able to see the Sun before it rises or just after it sets is due to

A)refraction.
B)reflection.
C)scattering.
D)absorption.

Answer 1

A

Question 2

The study of the effects of the atmosphere on the path of visible radiation passing through it is called ________.

Answer 2

Atmospheric Optics

Question 3

Mirages are caused by

A)apparent horizontal displacements of objects by refraction.
B)apparent upward or downward displacements of objects by reflection.
C)apparent upward or downward displacements of objects by refraction.
D)apparent horizontal displacements of objects by reflection.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

Refraction occurs because radiation speed varies with

A)moisture.
B)density.
C)sunlight.
D)temperature.

Question 5

Mirages are caused by

A)refraction.
B)reflection.
C)scattering.
D)absorption.

Question 6

An inferior mirage

A)is made of a single degraded image.
B)is made of 2 images, both imaginary.
C)is made of 2 images, one a true image and one an inverted one.
D)is made of 3 images, one a true image and the two others are degraded replicas of the original.

Question 7

A superior image

A)forms when images are displaced upward.
B)forms when there is one largest image in a group of images.
C)forms when one image is an exact replica of a true feature.
D)all of these

Question 8

Near the earth's surface,vertical changes of air density with height are caused primarily by

A)vertical moisture gradients.
B)horizontal moisture gradients.
C)horizontal temperature gradients.
D)vertical temperature gradients.

Question 9

A refraction pattern in which rays are bent concave upward can be caused by

A)increased moisture.
B)strong winds.
C)a steady, steep drop in temperature with height.
D)low clouds.

Question 10

The figure depicts

A)a superior mirage.
B)an inferior mirage.
C)a green flash.
D)a twilight mirage.

Question 11

Because the index of refraction varies slightly with wavelength,

A)white light refracts much less than black light.
B)white light refracts much more than black light.
C)the amount and direction of refraction is exactly the same for all colors of light.
D)the amount and direction of refraction is slightly different for different colors of light.

Question 12

In a superior mirage,the false image occurs

A)below the actual image.
B)above the actual image.
C)both above and below the actual image.

Question 13

Why does refraction occur?

A)Some wavelengths are more absorbed than other.
B)because radiation speed varies with density of the atmosphere
C)because the denser the atmosphere is the higher the speed that light is transmitted
D)none of these

Question 14

When is refraction of incoming solar radiation greatest?

A)at sunrise
B)at sunset
C)at mid-day
D)both A and B

Question 15

The bright green spot that momentarily appears over a setting sun is called a

A)halo.
B)sundog.
C)superior mirage.
D)green flash.

Question 16

The figure demonstrates

A)reflection.
B)refraction.
C)diffraction.
D)scattering.

Question 17

Twilight is caused by

A)negative albedo.
B)scattering.
C)diffuse radiation.
D)absorption.

Question 18

A difference in air density can cause

A)refraction.
B)reflection.
C)scattering.
D)absorption.

Question 19

Which of the following is defined as the bending of light rays as they pass through the atmosphere?

A)reflection
B)refraction
C)absorption
D)scattering

Question 20

In its path from the top of the atmosphere to the surface of the earth,radiation undergoes which of the following?

A)refraction
B)reflection
C)scattering
D)all of these

Question 21

Where are rainbows located?

A)always just above the horizon
B)always in the center of the sky
C)always in the same part of the sky as the sun
D)always in the part of the sky opposite from the sun

Question 22

A mirage that forms with warm air above a cool water surface is

A)an inferior mirage.
B)a superior mirage.
C)a desert mirage.
D)a twilight mirage.

Question 23

Under most circumstances the density ________ with increasing altitude.

A)decreases
B)increases
C)remains constant

Question 24

The optics of rainbow formation involve

A)reflection only.
B)refraction only.
C)both reflection and refraction.
D)neither reflection nor refraction.

Question 25

How does the length of twilight vary from summer to winter?

Question 26

When the Sun is positioned slightly below the horizon,its direct rays cannot be seen at the surface,but diffuse radiation can illuminate the sky to create ________ conditions.

Question 27

Explain how,where,and when the green flash occurs.

Question 28

Which of the following is NOT associated with a superior mirage?

A)diffraction occurring in cirrus clouds
B)decreasing density with height in the atmosphere
C)warm air moves over cooler water surfaces
D)images are displaced upward

Question 29

How many degrees of arc does a primary rainbow extend?

A)30 degrees
B)45 degrees
C)85 degrees
D)110 degrees

Question 30

The brightest and most common rainbows are

A)primary rainbows.
B)secondary rainbows.
C)moonbows.
D)glories.

Question 31

Characterize the conditions of the atmosphere that are favorable for the formation of an inferior mirage.

Question 32

Which of the following is NOT associated with an inferior mirage?

A)steep temperature differences near the surface
B)the "puddle" of water on the road
C)increasing density with height in the atmosphere
D)reflection and refraction of raindrops

Question 33

Sundogs form when platelike ice crystals

A)tumble while falling.
B)orient themselves vertically.
C)orient themselves horizontally.
D)melt while falling.

Question 34

Describe the atmospheric conditions under which a superior mirage would form.

Question 35

________ are formed by the interaction of light with ice crystals.

A)Primary rainbows
B)Secondary rainbows
C)Haloes
D)Glories

Question 36

Explain the presence of red and orange at sunrise and sunset.

Question 37

What types of clouds help produce halo when the sun shines through them?

A)cumulonimbus
B)cirrostratus
C)altocumulus
D)stratus

Question 38

A secondary rainbow requires

A)a single reflection within a raindrop.
B)two reflections within a raindrop.
C)three reflections within a raindrop.
D)no reflection within a raindrop.

Question 39

If the density of the atmosphere decreases with height,than a distant building would appear ________ than it really is.

A)taller
B)shorter
C)wider
D)thinner

Question 40

The figure depicts the formation of a

A)primary rainbow.
B)secondary rainbow.
C)green flash.
D)glories.

Question 41

The ________ is a circular illumination of the sky immediately surrounding the Moon,or in rarer instances,the Sun.

Question 42

What is a sundog and how is it formed?

Question 43

Halos are associated with

A)stratus clouds.
B)thunderstorms.
C)cumulus clouds.
D)cirrostratus clouds.

Question 44

Platelike crystals between a low Sun and an observer can also ________ sunlight off their tops and bottoms to produce ________.

Question 45

Are halos frequently associated with stratus clouds? Explain your answer.

Question 46

Explain how a secondary rainbow is formed.

Question 47

Sun pillars form when ________-oriented platelike ice crystals ________ light.

A)vertically; reflect
B)vertically; refract
C)horizontally; reflect
D)horizontally; refract

Question 48

A ________ requires diffraction along the edge of a cloud droplet as the sunlight exits the droplet.

Question 49

The occurrence of a sundog tells you that

A)the ice crystals are columnar in shape and are horizontally-oriented as they fall.
B)the ice crystals are platelike in shape and are horizontally-oriented as they fall.
C)the ice crystals are columnar in shape and are tumbling while they fall.
D)the ice crystals are platelike in shape and are tumbling while they fall.

Question 50

Which of the following are necessary for rainbows to appear?

A)rain falling at some distance away
B)clear sky above the viewer
C)clear sky behind the viewer
D)all of these

Question 51

The bending of light as it passes around water droplets is known as ________.

Question 52

What is a sun pillar and how is it formed?

Question 53

Sundogs

A)are formed by refraction caused by water droplets.
B)are formed by refraction caused by ice crystals.
C)occur only at low levels in the atmosphere.
D)occur only in latitudes close to the poles.

Question 54

The optical effect in the figure is

A)a halo.
B)a sundog.
C)a glory.
D)a corona.

Question 55

The occurrence of a halo tells you that

A)the ice crystals are columnar in shape and are horizontally-oriented as they fall.
B)the ice crystals are platelike in shape and are horizontally-oriented as they fall.
C)the ice crystals are columnar in shape and are tumbling while they fall.
D)the ice crystals are platelike in shape and are tumbling while they fall.

Question 56

The optical effect in the figure is

A)a halo.
B)a sundog.
C)a glory.
D)a corona.

Question 57

The optical effect in the figure is

A)a halo.
B)a sundog.
C)a glory.
D)a green flash.

Question 58

Halos exhibit radii of refraction of ________ degrees and ________ degrees.

Question 59

The brightest and most common rainbows are ________.

Question 60

Can falling ice crystals produce a rainbow? Explain your answer.

Question 61

Explain how a primary rainbow is formed.

Question 62

Which of the colors of the primary rainbow is refracted at the greatest angle? Explain your answer.