Question 1

What kind of energy does gravity give to hailstones suspended in a thunderstorm?

Accepted Answer

Gravity gives potential energy to hailstones suspended in a thunderstorm. As the hailstones are lifted higher in the thunderstorm cloud by strong updrafts, they gain potential energy due to their height above the ground. This potential energy is later converted to kinetic energy when the hailstones fall to the ground due to gravity.

Question 2

Which of the following associations is INCORRECT?

Accepted Answer

The autumnal equinox is actually the day when the length of day and night are equal all over the world, and it occurs around September 21-23. The winter solstice is the shortest day of the year for the Arctic Circle, which occurs around December 21-22.

Question 3

What is the 'atmospheric window'?

Accepted Answer

The 'atmospheric window' refers to the range of infrared wavelengths that can most easily escape Earth's atmosphere, allowing the Earth to radiate heat into space.

Question 4

At 45 degrees S latitude, the angle of the noon Sun is lowest and the length of daylight is shortest on:

Accepted Answer

At 45 degrees S latitude, the angle of the noon Sun is lowest and the length of daylight is shortest on June 21, which is the winter solstice in the Southern Hemisphere.

Question 5

During the spring equinox in the northern hemisphere, the circle of illumination passes directly through the:

Accepted Answer

The answer of During the spring equinox in the northern...

Question 6

Which of the following does NOT happen to solar radiation as it passes through the atmosphere?

Accepted Answer

Intensification is not a process that occurs as solar radiation passes through the atmosphere. The other three processes (absorption, scattering, and transmission) do occur to varying degrees depending on the wavelength and other properties of the radiation and the composition of the atmosphere it is passing through.

Question 7

Earth's sky is blue during the day because:

Accepted Answer

The sky appears blue during the day because the molecules in Earth's atmosphere scatter blue wavelengths of light more than they scatter other colors. This is known as Rayleigh scattering. As sunlight enters the atmosphere, it collides with gas molecules and scatters in all directions. Blue light is scattered more than other colors because it has a shorter wavelength and is more easily affected by the small gas molecules in the air. This is also why the sun appears yellow or orange at sunrise and sunset - when the sunlight must pass through more of the atmosphere to reach our eye, more of the blue light is scattered away, leaving us with the longer-wavelength colors of the sunrise or sunset.

Question 8

Most of the radiation emitted by the earth and its atmosphere is in the category of:

Accepted Answer

The earth and its atmosphere primarily emit radiation in the infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. This is due to the thermal radiation emitted by the earth's surface and the re-radiation of absorbed solar radiation by the atmosphere. X-rays, ultraviolet, and gamma radiation are all higher-energy forms of radiation and are not emitted in significant quantities by the earth and its atmosphere.

Question 9

In meteorological terminology, the primary difference between convection and advection is:

Accepted Answer

Convection refers to the transfer of heat through vertical movement of air, while advection refers to the transfer of heat through horizontal movement of air. Thus, option B correctly differentiates between the two terms.

Question 10

Thermals and advection are both types of:

Accepted Answer

Thermals and advection both involve the movement of air or fluid, which is characteristic of convection. Radiation refers to the transfer of heat energy through electromagnetic waves, while conduction involves the transfer of heat energy through direct contact, and transmission refers to the passage of energy through a medium like air or water.

Question 11

The longest wavelengths on the electromagnetic spectrum are:

Accepted Answer

Radio waves have the longest wavelength on the electromagnetic spectrum, ranging from hundreds of meters to several kilometers.

Question 12

While sitting outside at a picnic, you and your family start discussing how hot it is outside and plan to take a dip in the lake to cool off. What type of heat have you experienced in order to make this statement?

Accepted Answer

Sensible heat refers to the heat we sense and feel, such as the warmth from the sun or the hot air around us. In this scenario, the family is feeling the hot temperature outside and deciding to cool off by taking a dip in the lake. This corresponds to sensible heat. The other options, kinetic heat, potential heat, and latent heat, do not accurately describe the heat experienced in this situation.

Question 13

The atmosphere is heated primarily by:

Accepted Answer

The atmosphere is primarily heated by the absorption of Earth's longwave radiation, which is emitted from the surface after it absorbs solar energy.

Question 14

Which of the following is a measurement of the average kinetic energy possessed by the atoms or molecules in a substance?

Accepted Answer

Temperature is a measure of the average kinetic energy of the particles in a substance. Latent energy refers to energy that is stored in an object without producing a temperature change, heat refers to energy transferred between objects due to a difference in temperature, and potential energy refers to energy that an object possesses due to its position or configuration.

Question 15

An astronomer tells you that he has discovered a new planet that he calls Planet X. All he knows about Planet X so far is that it has a very dense atmosphere with a temperature approximately 5 times warmer than that of Earth. What hypothesis can you reasonably make regarding the atmosphere of Planet X?

Accepted Answer

A temperature 5 times warmer than Earth's suggests that Planet X has a strong greenhouse effect. This means that the atmosphere traps heat, likely due to the presence of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide or methane. Therefore, choice D is the most reasonable hypothesis. It is not possible to definitively rule out choices A, B or C based on the information given, as the astronomer has not provided any details about the composition of the atmosphere beyond its density and temperature.

Question 16

Based on the analemma above, what is the approximate location of the solar declination on August 26?

Accepted Answer

On August 26, the Sun is located on the southern hemisphere of the analemma and is closer to the Equator, around -10° declination. Choice C, 10° N, is the closest approximation.

Question 17

What is the only form of heat transfer that can operate in a vacuum?

Accepted Answer

Radiation is the only form of heat transfer that can operate in a vacuum because it does not require a medium to transfer heat energy. Convection and conduction both require a medium such as air or a solid object to transfer heat, while advection refers specifically to the transfer of heat by a moving fluid.

Question 18

At what time of year is the earth's axis not tilted either toward or away from the Sun?

Accepted Answer

The autumnal equinox occurs on September 22nd or 23rd each year, and is the moment when the Earth's axis is not tilted either toward or away from the Sun, meaning that day and night are almost equal in length.

Question 19

Most of the solar energy absorbed by planet Earth and its atmosphere is absorbed by:

Accepted Answer

The Earth's surface absorbs most of the solar radiation that reaches the planet, with only a small percentage being reflected back into space. This absorbed energy is what drives Earth's climate and weather patterns. Atmospheric gases and dust do absorb some solar radiation, but they do not absorb as much as the Earth's surface does. Clouds can also absorb and reflect some solar radiation, but they are not the main absorbers.

Question 20

Earth's perihelion:

Accepted Answer

Perihelion is the point in the orbit of a planet where it is closest to the sun. If Earth's orbit were perfectly circular, there would be no point closer or farther from the sun, thus no perihelion or aphelion.

Quiz 2: Heating Earths Surface and Atmosphere