Question 1

What causes seasons?

Accepted Answer

A)  differences in the amount of daylight 
B)  the changing tilt angle of the earth 
C)  seasonal changes in the angle of the sun above the horizon 
D)  the elliptical orbit of the earth 
E)  none of the above 
A)  differences in the amount of daylight 
B)  the changing tilt angle of the earth 
C)  seasonal changes in the angle of the sun above the horizon 
D)  the elliptical orbit of the earth 
E)  none of the above

Question 2

How is Earth's rotation axis oriented relative to the revolution orbit?

Accepted Answer

A)  It changes with time so that it is perpendicular in June and December. 
B)  It varies somewhat randomly over small angles, less than 23.5 degrees. 
C)  It is fixed and always points toward the North Star regardless of season. 
D)  We don't really know how much it varies because we have not been able to make observations from space for more than about 60 years. 
A)  It changes with time so that it is perpendicular in June and December. 
B)  It varies somewhat randomly over small angles, less than 23.5 degrees. 
C)  It is fixed and always points toward the North Star regardless of season. 
D)  We don't really know how much it varies because we have not been able to make observations from space for more than about 60 years.

Question 3

Where is the top of the atmosphere?

Accepted Answer

A)  100 km above sea level 
B)  21 km above sea level 
C)  32 km above sea level 
D)  There is no defined upper limit to the atmosphere. 
A)  100 km above sea level 
B)  21 km above sea level 
C)  32 km above sea level 
D)  There is no defined upper limit to the atmosphere.

Question 4

Which of the following is not a mechanism for heat transfer?

Accepted Answer

A)  convection 
B)  contraction 
C)  conduction 
D)  radiation 
E)  They are all mechanisms for heat transfer. 
A)  convection 
B)  contraction 
C)  conduction 
D)  radiation 
E)  They are all mechanisms for heat transfer.

Question 5

Latent heat that is the energy source for many storms can be transported by_____  .

Accepted Answer

A)  carbon dioxide 
B)  ozone 
C)  dust 
D)  aerosols 
E)  water vapor 
A)  carbon dioxide 
B)  ozone 
C)  dust 
D)  aerosols 
E)  water vapor

Question 6

Of the original radiation that reaches Earth, eventually_____  percent is retained.

Accepted Answer

A)  50 
B)  30 
C)  70 
D)  20 
A)  50 
B)  30 
C)  70 
D)  20

Question 7

Which of these has the shortest wavelength?

Accepted Answer

A)  infrared 
B)  gamma rays 
C)  microaves 
D)  AM radio 
A)  infrared 
B)  gamma rays 
C)  microaves 
D)  AM radio

Question 8

The least significant form of heat transfer in the atmosphere is_____  .

Accepted Answer

A)  contraction 
B)  radiation 
C)  conduction 
D)  convection 
A)  contraction 
B)  radiation 
C)  conduction 
D)  convection

Question 9

Important weather phenomena typically occurs in the _____ .

Accepted Answer

A)  stratosphere 
B)  thermosphere 
C)  troposphere 
D)  mesosphere 
E)  all of the above 
A)  stratosphere 
B)  thermosphere 
C)  troposphere 
D)  mesosphere 
E)  all of the above

Question 10

The longest wavelengths on the electromagnetic spectrum are_____  .

Accepted Answer

A)  infrared 
B)  gamma 
C)  ultraviolet 
D)  radio 
A)  infrared 
B)  gamma 
C)  ultraviolet 
D)  radio

Question 11

If the maximum temperature for a particular day is 26°C and the minimum temperature is 14°C, the daily mean would be _____ .

Accepted Answer

A)  12°C 
B)  13°C 
C)  20°C 
D)  40°C 
A)  12°C 
B)  13°C 
C)  20°C 
D)  40°C

Question 12

Which one of the following statements is true about the equinoxes?

Accepted Answer

A)  The length of daylight at the Arctic and Antarctic Circles is 24 hours. 
B)  Days and nights are equal in length everywhere. 
C)  The Sun's vertical rays are striking either the Tropic of Cancer or the Tropic of Capricorn. 
D)  They occur in June and December. 
A)  The length of daylight at the Arctic and Antarctic Circles is 24 hours. 
B)  Days and nights are equal in length everywhere. 
C)  The Sun's vertical rays are striking either the Tropic of Cancer or the Tropic of Capricorn. 
D)  They occur in June and December.

Question 13

The movement of Earth in its orbit around the Sun is referred to as _____ .

Accepted Answer

A)  rotation 
B)  revolution 
C)  perihelion 
D)  inclination 
A)  rotation 
B)  revolution 
C)  perihelion 
D)  inclination

Question 14

The fall equinox in the Southern Hemisphere occurs on this date.

Accepted Answer

A)  September 21 
B)  December 21 
C)  June 21 
D)  March 21 
A)  September 21 
B)  December 21 
C)  June 21 
D)  March 21

Question 15

Examine the words and/or phrases below and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the option which does not fit the pattern.

Accepted Answer

A)  Tropic of Cancer 
B)  Arctic Circle 
C)  Tropic of Capricorn 
D)  Equator 
A)  Tropic of Cancer 
B)  Arctic Circle 
C)  Tropic of Capricorn 
D)  Equator

Question 16

The lowest layer of the atmosphere is the_____  .

Accepted Answer

A)  stratosphere 
B)  mesosphere 
C)  ionosphere 
D)  troposphere 
A)  stratosphere 
B)  mesosphere 
C)  ionosphere 
D)  troposphere

Question 17

There has been some political discussion in the past few years about whether we are experiencing "Global Climate Change." How would you evaluate this debate?

Accepted Answer

It is now possible to use the internet t

Question 18

The Montreal Protocol is a UN agreement that is intended to_____  .

Accepted Answer

A)  reduce CFCs in the atmosphere 
B)  reduce CO2 in the atmosphere 
C)  make everyone feel good about the environment without really fixing anything 
D)  reduce air pollution globally 
E)  reduce ozone in the atmosphere 
A)  reduce CFCs in the atmosphere 
B)  reduce CO2 in the atmosphere 
C)  make everyone feel good about the environment without really fixing anything 
D)  reduce air pollution globally 
E)  reduce ozone in the atmosphere

Question 19

The North Pole has a higher noon Sun angle than New York City on this date.

Accepted Answer

A)  March 21 
B)  September 21 
C)  June 21 
D)  none of these 
A)  March 21 
B)  September 21 
C)  June 21 
D)  none of these

Question 20

The tropopause is the boundary between_____  .

Accepted Answer

A)  tropical and polar air masses 
B)  the troposphere and mesosphere 
C)  the troposphere and stratosphere 
D)  two layers of high ozone concentration 
A)  tropical and polar air masses 
B)  the troposphere and mesosphere 
C)  the troposphere and stratosphere 
D)  two layers of high ozone concentration

Exam 16: The Atmosphere: Composition, Structure, and Temperature

What causes seasons?

How is Earth's rotation axis oriented relative to the revolution orbit?

Where is the top of the atmosphere?

Which of the following is not a mechanism for heat transfer?

Latent heat that is the energy source for many storms can be transported by_____ .

Of the original radiation that reaches Earth, eventually_____ percent is retained.

Which of these has the shortest wavelength?

The least significant form of heat transfer in the atmosphere is_____ .

Important weather phenomena typically occurs in the _____ .

The longest wavelengths on the electromagnetic spectrum are_____ .

If the maximum temperature for a particular day is 26°C and the minimum temperature is 14°C, the daily mean would be _____ .

Which one of the following statements is true about the equinoxes?

The movement of Earth in its orbit around the Sun is referred to as _____ .

The fall equinox in the Southern Hemisphere occurs on this date.

Examine the words and/or phrases below and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the option which does not fit the pattern.

The lowest layer of the atmosphere is the_____ .

There has been some political discussion in the past few years about whether we are experiencing "Global Climate Change." How would you evaluate this debate?

The Montreal Protocol is a UN agreement that is intended to_____ .

The North Pole has a higher noon Sun angle than New York City on this date.

The tropopause is the boundary between_____ .

Introduction to Earth Science

Matter and Minerals

Rocks: Materials of the Solid Earth

Plate Tectonics: a Scientific Revolution Unfolds

Earthquakes and Earths Interior

Volcanoes and Other Igneous Activity

Crustal Deformation and Mountain Building

Weathering, Soil, and Mass Movement

Running Water and Groundwater

Glaciers, Deserts, and Wind

Geologic Time

Earths Evolution Through Geologic Time

The Ocean Floor

Ocean Water and Ocean Life

The Dynamic Ocean

Moisture, Clouds, and Precipitation

Air Pressure and Wind

Weather Patterns and Severe Storms

World Climates and Global Climate Change

Origins of Modern Astronomy

Touring Our Solar System

Light, Telescopes, and the Sun

Beyond Our Solar System

Filters