Deck 2: Solar Energy to Earth and the Seasons

Question 1

What powers our planet and our lives?

A)Energy derived from inside Earth.
B)Radiant energy from the Sun.
C)Utilities and oil companies.
D)Shorter wavelengths of gamma rays,X-rays,and ultraviolet.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

The Sun produces which of the following?

A)Mainly visible light and infrared energy.
B)Mainly ultraviolet and X-rays.
C)Only solar wind.
D)Only radiant energy that is beneficial to life.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Which of the following best describes the Milky Way Galaxy in which we live?

A)It is a cone-shaped galaxy.
B)It is one of hundreds of galaxies in the universe.
C)It contains approximately 300 billion stars.
D)It is the largest galaxy in the universe.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

Why does the Sun give off electromagnetic radiation?

A)Because matter is converted into energy.
B)Because matter and energy totally annihilate one another in matter-antimatter reactions.
C)Because energy is converted into matter.
D)Because kinetic energy is converted into potential energy.

Question 5

What is the dominant wavelength of energy emitted by the Sun?

A)It is shorter than that emitted by Earth.
B)It is longer than that emitted by Earth.
C)It is the same length as that emitted by Earth.
D)It is longer than that emitted by Earth,but the frequency is modulated.

Question 6

According to findings from the Kepler telescope,what is the estimated number of planets in the Milky Way and on how many are there habitable zones?

A)300 billion; 125 billion.
B)25 million; 3 million.
C)1 billion; 25 million.
D)50 billion; 500 million.

Question 7

At approximately what speed does light travel?

A)80 500 kilometres per hour.
B)300 000 kilometres per hour.
C)300 000 kilometres per second.
D)1 000 000 000 kilometres per second.

Question 8

What is the basic idea behind the planetesimal hypothesis?

A)That planets form as a direct result of the nuclear fusion of nebular gases and planetesimals.
B)That planets form from the remains of super-giant planetesimals that undergo nuclear fission and blow apart,thereby creating smaller objects-the planets.
C)That early in the history of the solar system,a star passed near to the Sun and pulled off gases that eventually condensed to form planets.
D)That small grains of cosmic dust and other solids gradually accrete to form planetesimals that may grow to become protoplanets and eventually planets.

Question 9

Which of the following best describes the orbit of Earth about the Sun?

A)It is perfectly circular.
B)It is elliptical.
C)It takes approximately the same time for Earth to orbit the Sun as it does for the rest of the planets in the solar system to orbit the Sun.
D)The orbit does not vary over millions of years.

Question 10

Which of the following best describes our solar system?

A)It consists of 8 planets and some 165 planetary satellites (moons).
B)Of all the planets,Neptune has the most moons.
C)Six of the eight planets have at least 5 moons.
D)Only one of the identified planetary satellites is still awaiting official confirmation.

Question 11

What is the name of the location on the surface of Earth that receives insolation when the Sun is directly overhead? (When this occurs,the rays of the Sun are perpendicular to this surface.)

A)Solar point.
B)Zenith.
C)Subsolar point.
D)North Polar point.

Question 12

Which of the following best describes the subsolar point?

A)The highest latitude at which it occurs is 60° N/S.
B)It only occurs at lower latitudes,between the tropics (23.5° N/S).
C)It occurs at all latitudes at least once throughout the year.
D)It never occurs beyond a few degrees of the equator.

Question 13

From what specifically did Earth and the Sun form?

A)The galaxy.
B)Unknown origins.
C)A nebula of dust and gases.
D)Other planets.

Question 14

Which of the following is characterized by the longest wavelengths?

A)X-rays.
B)Gamma rays.
C)Visible.
D)Radio waves.

Question 15

Which of the following most accurately describes the distance between Earth and the Sun?

A)The Earth-Sun distance averages 15 million kilometres.
B)It takes light an average of 20 minutes and 8 seconds to travel from the Sun to Earth.
C)Earth is closer to the Sun in January (perihelion)and farther away in July (aphelion).
D)The orbit of Earth around the sun is presently circular and,therefore Earth is always equidistant from the Sun throughout the year.

Question 16

The planetesimal hypothesis pertains to the formation of which of the following?

A)Universe.
B)Galaxy.
C)Planets.
D)Ocean basins.

Question 17

What is the name of a supermassive black hole in the galactic centre of the Milky Way?

A)Sagittarius A*.
B)The Orion Spur.
C)Messier 31.
D)Centaurus A.

Question 18

Which of the following best describes our galaxy?

A)The Sun is the largest star in the Milky Way Galaxy.
B)The Milky Way is part of our Solar System.
C)The Sun produces energy through fusion processes.
D)The Sun is also a planet.

Question 19

What is the plane of the orbit of Earth about the Sun called?

A)Perihelion.
B)Aphelion.
C)The plane of the ecliptic.
D)A great circle.

Question 20

Which of the following best describes our sun?

A)The Sun and Solar System are part of the Andromeda Galaxy.
B)The Sun produces energy through fusion.
C)The Sun is by far the largest star in the Milky Way Galaxy.
D)The Sun is a greater than average sized,white star.

Question 21

On its way to Earth,what does the solar wind first encounter?

A)The atmosphere.
B)The magnetosphere.
C)The surface of Earth.
D)The lower atmosphere.

Question 22

What is a magnetic disturbance on the surface of the Sun called?

A)The electromagnetic spectrum.
B)The solar wind.
C)A sunspot.
D)A magnetospheric cyclone.

Question 23

How do radio waves compare to visible light in wavelength and in energy?

A)Longer; less.
B)Longer; more.
C)Shorter; less.
D)Shorter; more.

Question 24

What is the average insolation received by the thermopause when Earth is at its average distance from the sun known as?

A)The solar constant.
B)The solar wind input to the atmosphere.
C)The energy balance.
D)The incoming solar radiation.

Question 25

Which of the following is a consequence of the solar wind?

A)Halos.
B)Disruption of radio communications.
C)Charging of electrical systems.
D)Creation of the magnetosphere of Earth.

Question 26

What causes the auroras in the upper atmosphere?

A)Visible light interaction with the asthenosphere.
B)AM radio broadcasts.
C)Various weather phenomena.
D)The interaction of the solar wind and upper layers of the atmosphere of Earth.

Question 27

Where is the solar constant measured?

A)The surface of the Sun.
B)The edge of the atmosphere of the Sun.
C)The thermopause.
D)Sea level.

Question 28

Which of the following is best describes the relationship between insolation at the thermopause relative to latitude?

A)Insolation is evenly distributed with little change by latitude on an annual basis.
B)Lower latitudes receive more insolation than high latitudes annually.
C)Higher latitudes receive more insolation than lower latitudes annually.
D)Insolation can only be measured longitudinally,not latitudinally.

Question 29

What is the uneven distribution of insolation by latitude primarily a result of?

A)Variability in the output from the Sun.
B)The changing distance of Earth from the Sun.
C)Variation in the value of a watt.
D)The curvature of Earth,which presents varied angles to parallel solar rays.

Question 30

Which of the following is true of the electromagnetic spectrum from the Sun?

A)It consists exclusively of radiant energy made of gamma ray,X-ray,and ultraviolet wavelengths.
B)It consists exclusively of streams of charged particles.
C)It consists of gamma ray,X-ray,ultraviolet,visible,and infrared wavelengths.
D)It consists exclusively of visible light and infrared energy.

Question 31

What is the dominant wavelength emitted by Earth?

A)Gamma radiation.
B)X-ray radiation.
C)Visible light.
D)Infrared.

Question 32

What are the two main portions of the solar spectrum which enter the atmosphere?

A)X-rays and visible light.
B)Visible and infrared energy.
C)Infrared and gamma rays.
D)Ultraviolet and visible light.

Question 33

Which of the following sequences is arranged in order from shorter wavelength to longer wavelength?

A)Infrared,visible,ultraviolet,X-rays.
B)X-rays,ultraviolet,visible,infrared.
C)Gamma rays,microwaves,visible,X-rays.
D)Radio waves,light,heat,X-rays.

Question 34

Which of the following best describe sunspots?

A)They only affected Earth in geologic time.
B)They can produce flares and prominences.
C)They are brighter than the rest of the surface of the Sun.
D)They are surface disturbances caused by convective storms.

Question 35

Why did Astronauts deploy a solar wind measuring experiment on the Moon?

A)Because the lunar surface is protected by an atmosphere.
B)Because there is no electromagnetic energy arriving there.
C)Because the solar wind does not reach the surface of Earth.
D)Because no one else had attempted the experiment before and they wanted to be the first.

Question 36

Which of the following have been correlated with sunspot cycles?

A)Abnormally wet years only.
B)Southern hemisphere droughts.
C)Both abnormally wet years and droughts.
D)Abnormally wet years occurring in association with unusually high windspeeds.

Question 37

Which of the following best describes the radiation relationship between the Sun and Earth?

A)The Sun emits longwave radiation,whereas Earth emits shortwave radiation.
B)The Sun emits shortwave radiation,whereas Earth emits longwave radiation.
C)The radiation emitted by the Sun and Earth are roughly the same wavelength.
D)Because the Sun is so far away,it is impossible to measure the wavelengths of its radiation.

Question 38

To what does the thermopause refer?

A)The magnetic field of Earth.
B)The solar atmosphere that extends into space.
C)The top of the atmosphere of Earth.
D)The surface of the Sun.

Question 39

What is Earth's magnetosphere generated by?

A)Nuclear fusion in Earth's core.
B)Nuclear fission in Earth's core.
C)Dynamo-like motions in Earth's interior.
D)Gravitational accretion.

Question 40

What is intercepted solar radiation called?

A)Solar wind.
B)Thermosphere.
C)Solar constant.
D)Insolation.

Question 41

How is the rotation of Earth best described?

A)Rotation is from east to west.
B)Rotation is clockwise when viewed from above the South Pole.
C)Rotation is from west to east.
D)Rotation is clockwise when viewed from above the North Pole.

Question 42

With reference to the figure above,which of the following is true for the September Equinox?

A)There is 24 hours of daylight at the North Pole.
B)The Arctic Circle is completely within the circle of illumination.
C)The Antarctic Circle is completely within the circle of illumination.
D)The circle of illumination passes through both the poles.

Question 43

When does the summer solstice occur in the southern hemisphere?

A)It occurs at the same time as summer solstice in the northern hemisphere.
B)It occurs on or around June 21.
C)It occurs on or around December 21.
D)It occurs during equinox in the northern hemisphere.

Question 44

The declination of the Sun migrates through how many degrees of latitude annually?

A)23.5°.
B)30°.
C)47°.
D)66.5°.

Question 45

Which of the following characterizes the revolution of Earth?

A)It takes approximately 24 hours.
B)It is responsible for creating the circle of illumination,and hence,day/night relationships.
C)It is clockwise when viewed from above the North Pole.
D)It determines the timing of seasons and length of the year.

Question 46

What is important about Wein's Displacement Law?

A)It gives an indication of the rate of precipitation that is required to raise sea level.
B)It allows scientists to calculate the volume of energy contained in the atmosphere of Earth.
C)It summarizes the relationship between the temperature of an object and the mean wavelength of energy that the object emits.
D)It describes the nature of the atmospheric window that exists where water vapour and carbon dioxide absorb incoming solar radiation.

Question 47

What does the altitude of the Sun refer to?

A)It refers to the angular distance from the equator to the latitude at which direct overhead insolation is received.
B)It refers to the angular height of the Sun above the horizon.
C)It refers to the location of the subsolar point.
D)It refers to the distance between the Sun and Earth.

Question 48

Which of the following best describes the circle of illumination at all times of the year?

A)It divides Earth between northern and southern hemispheres.
B)It divides Earth into eastern and western halves.
C)It separates winter from summer.
D)It divides Earth between equal halves of lightness and darkness.

Question 49

What does the declination of the Sun refer to?

A)It refers to the latitude of the subsolar point.
B)It refers to the angular height of the Sun above the horizon.
C)It refers to the distance between the Sun and Earth.
D)It refers to the altitude of the Sun,in tens of metres,above the horizon.

Question 50

Which of the following is true regarding the axis of Earth?

A)The amount of axial tilt fluctuates during the year and forms the basis for seasonal changes.
B)The axis remains parallel to the plane of the ecliptic.
C)Axial tilt is unrelated to the phenomenon of seasonal change.
D)The axis is tilted 23.5° from a perpendicular to the plane of the ecliptic.

Question 51

Which of the following is true regarding the axis of Earth?

A)It is tilted 28.5° relative to the plane of the ecliptic.
B)The axis through the two poles of Earth points just slightly off Sagittarius A*.
C)During the winter months,the axis is aligned towards Southern Cross.
D)Throughout the year,the axis maintains the same alignment relative to the plane of the ecliptic.

Question 52

Which of the following can be attributed to the effects the rotation of Earth?

A)The migration of the subsolar point.
B)Deflection of winds,ocean currents,or any moving objects.
C)Development of high altitude clouds.
D)Latitudinal variations in net radiation.

Question 53

With reference to the figure above,which of the following is true for the December Solstice?

A)The subsolar point is at the equator.
B)The Arctic Circle is completely within the circle of illumination.
C)The Antarctic Circle is completely within the circle of illumination.
D)The subsolar point is at the Tropic of Cancer (23.5° N).

Question 54

Which of the following is correct regarding daylength?

A)Daylength is uniform at all latitudes throughout the years.
B)People living at the equator experience 6 hours difference in daylength between the summer and winter.
C)The equator always receives equal hours of day and night.
D)The range of daylength is shortest in the polar regions.

Question 55

Which of the following is true regarding daylength?

A)The equator experiences at least six-hours difference in daylength from winter to summer.
B)Nowhere on Earth does daylength vary by as much as 24 hours.
C)Daylength varies more at the equator than at higher latitudes.
D)The people living at 40° N or S latitude experience about six-hours difference in daylength from winter to summer.

Question 56

To what does the term "net radiation" refer?

A)It refers to the total amount of energy received by Earth.
B)It refers to the total amount of energy radiated by Earth.
C)It refers to the difference in amount of incoming and outgoing radiation.
D)It refers to the radiation emitted by satellite networks.

Question 57

Which of the following is true regarding rotational velocities at different latitudes?

A)At 90° latitude,the rotational velocity is 1452 km • h-1.
B)At 0° latitude,the rotational velocity is 1675 km • h-1.
C)At 60° latitude,the rotational velocity is 8380 km • h-1.
D)At 30° latitude,the rotational velocity is 1452 km • h-1.

Question 58

With reference to the figure above,which of the following is true for the March Equinox?

A)The subsolar point is at the equator.
B)The subsolar point is at the Tropic of Cancer (23.5° N).
C)The subsolar point is at the Tropic of Capricorn (23.5° S).
D)The subsolar point is at the Prime Meridian.

Question 59

Which of the following is true of the number of hours of daylight?

A)The number of hours of daylight includes the hours between dawn and twilight,not just the hours from sunrise to sunset.
B)The number of hours of daylight varies depending on the latitude of the observer.
C)The number of hours of daylight varies the most along the equator.
D)The number of hours of daylight varies the least at higher latitudes.

Question 60

What is important about changes in daylength and the altitude of the Sun above the horizon over the course of the year?

A)These are two factors that produce the rotation of Earth.
B)These are are phenomena that occur only at the equator.
C)These are two of the factors responsible for the seasons.
D)These are factors that follow an irregular,random cycle.

Question 61

On Earth,the Sun passes directly overhead at 25° N latitude how many times a year?

A)0)
B)1)
C)2)
D)4)

Question 62

To what does the Tropic of Capricorn refer?

A)It is the parallel that is 23.5° S latitude.
B)It is the location of the subsolar point on September 22.
C)It is the parallel that is the farthest northern location for the subsolar point during the year.
D)It is the parallel that is 66.5° S latitude.

Question 63

To what does the Tropic of Cancer refer?

A)It refers to the parallel that occurs at 23.5° S latitude.
B)It refers to the location of the subsolar point on September 22.
C)It refers to the parallel that is the farthest northern location for the subsolar point during the year.
D)It refers to 0° latitude when the Sun crosses the equator.

Question 64

Which of the following relationships is correct?

A)December solstice - subsolar point at 23.5° N latitude.
B)March equinox - subsolar point at 23.5° S latitude.
C)June 21 - subsolar point at 23.5° N latitude.
D)June solstice - subsolar point at 0° latitude.

Question 65

With reference to the figure above,on approximately which dates is the subsolar point 16° S?

A)March 30 and September 15.
B)February 5 and November 5.
C)April 25 and August 20.
D)May 5 and August 10.

Question 66

Which of the following is true of the March equinox?

A)Moving south of the equator,daylength increases,while moving north of the equator daylength decreases.
B)The direct rays of the Sun strike perpendicular at the Tropic of Capricorn (23.5° S).
C)At all latitudes between the poles,day and night are of equal length.
D)In the Southern Hemisphere,it is known as the vernal equinox.

Question 67

On June 21st,where is the declination of the Sun?

A)It is at the equator.
B)It is located at Rio de Janeiro,Brazil and Alice Springs,Australia.
C)It is on the Tropic of Capricorn.
D)The Tropic of Cancer.

Question 68

Which of the following statements is true?

A)The Northern Hemisphere vernal equinox is the Southern Hemispheres Autumnal Equinox.
B)The Northern Hemisphere vernal equinox is also the Southern Hemispheres Vernal Equinox.
C)The Northern Hemisphere vernal equinox is the Southern Hemispheres Winter Solstice.
D)The Northern Hemisphere vernal equinox is the Southern Hemispheres Summer Solstice.

Question 69

Which of the following is true of Quito,Ecuador (0° 15' N,78° 35' S)?

A)Quito experiences days and nights of equal lengths throughout the year.
B)During the June Solstice,Quito experiences 24 hours of darkness because it is completely outside of the circle of illumination.
C)At noon on June 21st,the sun is directly overhead in Quito.
D)Quito is at a latitude that is never the subsolar point.

Question 70

Which of the following is correct relative to insolation at the thermopause?

A)In June,the North Pole receives over 500 watts per square metre per day.
B)In June,the South Pole receives over 550 watts per square metre per day.
C)Throughout the year,the equatorial receipt varies between 100 and 400 watts per square metre per day.
D)It receives an average amount of insolation equal to 100 watts per square metre per day.

Question 71

With reference to the figure above,which of the following is true for the June Solstice?

A)The subsolar point is at the equator.
B)The Arctic Circle is completely within the circle of illumination.
C)The Antarctic Circle is completely within the circle of illumination.
D)The subsolar point is at the Tropic of Capricorn (23.5° S).

Question 72

Which of the following is true regarding the point of sunrise for a location in the northern hemisphere?

A)It migrates from southeast to northeast from winter to summer.
B)It remains fixed throughout the year; only the altitude of the Sun changes.
C)It moves to the south from winter to summer.
D)It is along the western horizon in summer,and the eastern horizon in winter.

Question 73

Which of the following is true of the September equinox?

A)All latitudes on Earth,except the Equator,experience unequal daylengths.
B)The subsolar point is at the Tropic of Cancer (23.5° N).
C)The sun rises at the South Pole,where it will remain over the horizon for the following six months.
D)The Northern Hemisphere spring officially begins.

Question 74

Which of the following best describes the equinox?

A)It occurs four times during the year.
B)It has 12 hours of day and 12 hours of night for all locations.
C)It is the longest day of the year at any given place.
D)It occurs when the subsolar point is at one of the tropics.

Question 75

For observers in the Northern Hemisphere,which of the following is true?

A)Daylength becomes increasingly longer during the period from the summer solstice until the winter solstice.
B)Daylength decreases from the winter solstice until the vernal equinox,when it begins to increase.
C)Daylength is longest on the summer solstice and is shortest on the winter solstice.
D)Daylength variations are negligible for all locations throughout the year except above the Arctic Circle.

Question 76

The longest days of the year in the Southern Hemisphere are experienced during what time in the Northern Hemisphere?

A)Summer solstice.
B)Spring equinox.
C)Winter solstice.
D)Autumnal equinox.

Question 77

While standing at the Tropic of Cancer,Emma's shadow points north at noon (Sun time).Based on this,which of the following can be definitely concluded?

A)It must be the summer solstice.
B)It must be the winter solstice.
C)It must be one of the equinoxes.
D)It must not be the summer solstice.

Question 78

On June 21,the Sun never sets at Finn's location.Based on this,where can it be concluded that Finn lives?

A)He lives between the Tropic of Cancer and the Arctic Circle.
B)He lives between the Tropic of Capricorn and the Antarctic Circle.
C)He lives above the Arctic Circle.
D)He lives below the Antarctic Circle.

Question 79

Which of the following is true regarding dawn and twilight?

A)Dawn and twilight last longest at the equator-approximately 2.5 hours.
B)The polar regions do not experience dawn and twilight.
C)60° north and south latitudes receive the most dawn and twilight.
D)The duration of both increases with increasing latitude.

Question 80

The longest days of the year in the Northern Hemisphere are experienced during what time?

A)The time of 24-hour days at the South Pole.
B)Vernal equinox.
C)Winter solstice.
D)The time that the Sun is directly overhead at the Tropic of Cancer.