Unit 1
Which land surface absorbs the greatest amount of insolation?
(1) dark color and rough texture
(2) dark color and smooth texture
(3) light color and rough texture (
4) light color and smooth texture
(1) dark color and rough texture
Evidence of Earth’s rotation on its axis is provided by both the
(1) Doppler effect and El Niño
(2) Doppler effect and the Coriolis effect
(3) Foucault pendulum and El Niño
(4) Foucault pendulum and the Coriolis effect
(4) Foucault pendulum and the Coriolis effect
The number of hours from one low tide to the next low tide is approximately
(1) 6 h
(2) 12 h
(3) 18 h
(4) 24 h
(2) 12 h
The heliocentric model of the solar system shows the
(a) temperature of the Sun compared to the temperature of the planets
(b) age of the Sun compared to the age of the planets
(c) location of the planets in relation to the Sun
(d) size of the planets in relation to the Sun
(c) location of the planets in relation to the Sun
Which air mass is characterized by high relative humidity and low air temperature?
Maritime Polar (mP)
During which process does heat transfer occur because of density differences?
convection
At which New York State location is the observed altitude of Polaris approximately 42°?
(1) Rochester
(2) Plattsburgh
(3) New York City
(4) Binghamton
(4) Binghamton
Identify the force that causes tides.
Gravity
Compared to the planets closer to the Sun, the planets beyond Mars have
(1) warmer surface temperatures
(2) shorter periods of rotation
(3) greater densities
(4) layers of rocky composition
(2) shorter periods of rotation
What type of front creates a long steady rain ahead of it?
Warm Front
Which method of energy transfer is primarily responsible for energy being lost from Earth into space?
radiation
Earth revolves around the Sun at a rate of approximately
(1) 1° per day
(2) 15° per hour
(3) 360° per day
(4) 23.5° per hour
(1) 1° per day
State the number of days required for one complete cycle of Moon phases.
29.5 days
Light observed from most galaxies in our universe shows a shift toward the
(1) blue end of the spectrum and is evidence of a contracting universe
(2) blue end of the spectrum and is evidence of an expanding universe
(3) red end of the spectrum and is evidence of a contracting universe
(4) red end of the spectrum and is evidence of an expanding universe
(4) red end of the spectrum and is evidence of an expanding universe
Water vapor crystallizes in the atmosphere to form snowflakes. Which statement best describes the exchange of heat energy during this process?
A) Heat energy is transferred from the atmosphere to the water vapor.
B) Heat energy is released from the water vapor into the atmosphere.
C) Heat energy is transferred equally to and from the water vapor.
D) No heat energy is exchanged between the atmosphere and the water vapor.
B) Heat energy is released from the water vapor into the atmosphere.
Which statement best explains why most of the surface of Lake Erie usually remains as liquid water in late autumn, even though surrounding land surfaces and air temperatures may be below freezing?
(1) Water has a higher specific heat than land.
(2) Land surfaces change temperature more slowly than water surfaces.
(3) Warm winds from the land blow onto the surface of the lake.
(4) Energy absorption by the water is needed in order to freeze the surface of the lake.
(1) Water has a higher specific heat than land.
Which motion causes some constellations to be visible in New York State only during winter nights and other constellations to be visible only during summer nights?
Earth's revolution around the Sun.
Why do we not observe solar and lunar eclipses every month?
The moon’s orbit around Earth is inclined to Earth’s orbit around the sun by about 5 degrees.
Since the origin of our Solar System, the Sun has evolved from a protostar to its current early stage position in the main sequence. Identify the star classification of our Sun when it will be in the late stage of its development.
White Dwarf
Greatest amounts of lake-effect snow occur when wind blows across the greatest amount of the lake surface. Identify the compass direction toward which winds blow over Lake Erie to cause the most severe lake-effect snow in Buffalo.
West to East
After visible light is absorbed by the land surfaces, which form of long-wave electromagnetic energy is radiated?
infrared
Compared to current summer and winter temperatures in New York State, describe how New York State’s summer and winter temperatures would change if Earth’s rotational axis were tilted at 15.5° instead of 23.5°.
The difference between seasons would be less drastic. Winter would be slightly warmer and summer would be slightly cooler.
Identify the type of eclipse that can occur when Earth is in between the Sun and the Moon. Explain why this type of eclipse may occur.
Lunar Eclipse - the Earth's shadow overs the Moon
What is cosmic microwave background radiation and what is it evidence for?
It is the left over radiation detected all over the universe that is used as evidence for the Big Bang.
Explain why the wet-bulb thermometer will never record a higher temperature than the dry-bulb thermometer?
The water on the "sock" of the wet-bulb thermometer evaporates. Evaporation is a cooling process because in order for the water to evaporate it has to absorb energy (take away energy) from its surroundings, thus making the surroundings cooler.