The high temperature in the upper thermosphere
A) is produced by the absorption of UV radiation.
B) is more a measure of sensible temperature than kinetic energy.
C) is more a measure of kinetic energy than sensible temperature.
D) produces a tremendous amount of heat transfer.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The high temperature in the upper thermosphere is more a measure of kinetic energy than sensible temperature. This is because the density of particles in the thermosphere is very low, and there are very few collisions between particles. Therefore, the temperature is a measure of the average kinetic energy of the molecules in the region, rather than the sensible temperature which measures how hot the gas feels to touch. Additionally, the high temperature is not produced by the absorption of UV radiation alone, so option A is not correct. Option B is also incorrect as kinetic energy is related to temperature, not sensible temperature. Option D is not a correct choice as there is very little heat transfer in the thermosphere due to the low density of particles.

The High Temperature in the Upper Thermosphere