Deck 2: Energy

Question 1

Give one example each for how radiation, convection, and conduction transfer heat in the Sun-Earth system. For each example, give the path of heat flow: the source and where it is traveling to. Finally, give the ultimate source of energy for each example.

Answer 1

One example of radiation transferring heat in the Sun-Earth system is the Sun emitting electromagnetic radiation, which travels through space and is absorbed by the Earth's surface. The ultimate source of energy for this example is nuclear fusion reactions occurring in the core of the Sun.

An example of convection transferring heat in the Sun-Earth system is the movement of hot gases in the Sun's outer layer, known as the convection zone. These hot gases rise towards the Sun's surface, carrying heat with them, and then cool and sink back down in a continuous cycle. This ultimately transfers heat from the Sun's interior to its outer layers and into space. The ultimate source of energy for this example is also nuclear fusion reactions in the Sun's core.

An example of conduction transferring heat in the Sun-Earth system is the transfer of heat from the Sun's interior to its outer layers through the process of particle collisions. In this case, the ultimate source of energy is again nuclear fusion reactions in the Sun's core, which generate the heat that is then conducted through the Sun's layers.

Question 2

Consider the three major regions of the Sun's radiation: ultraviolet, visible and infrared. For each, describe the possible fates of the energy once it reaches the Earth's atmosphere, and be sure to highlight how their fates differ.
Fill in the blank (18)

Answer 2

Ultraviolet radiation from the Sun can be absorbed by various gases in the Earth's atmosphere, such as ozone, and can also be scattered by particles in the atmosphere. This can lead to the warming of the stratosphere and the creation of the ozone layer. In contrast, visible radiation is able to penetrate the Earth's atmosphere and reach the surface, where it can be absorbed by land, water, and vegetation, leading to heating and the production of infrared radiation. Infrared radiation, on the other hand, is absorbed by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, such as carbon dioxide and water vapor, leading to the warming of the Earth's surface. These different fates of the Sun's radiation in the Earth's atmosphere ultimately contribute to the complex and interconnected processes that regulate the Earth's climate.

Question 3

________ is the capacity to do work, to move matter, to make things happen.

Answer 3

Energy

Question 4

Thermal energy, or ________, is the vibrational movement of atoms and molecules.

Question 5

________ is a measure of heat, the vibrational motion of particles.

Question 6

________is the process by which heat moves directly from one object to an adjacent object with which it is in contact.

Question 7

________ is a mechanism of heat transfer in which heat content is physically carried from one location to another.

Question 8

________ is the process in which energy in the electromagnetic spectrum is transferred from a radiating or emitting body through a surrounding gas, liquid, or vacuum.

Question 9

Whenever an electrically charged particle is accelerated, it radiates energy in the form of ________ radiation.

Question 10

A group of electromagnetic rays arranged in order of increasing or decreasing wavelength is called a ________.

Question 11

A perfect ________is one that absorbs all light that strikes it, and reflects none.

Question 12

________ is the mutual physical attraction between the masses of the Moon and Earth.

Question 13

The increase in temperature as you go deeper is called the ________ gradient.

Question 14

________ heat is produced by the spontaneous breakdown, or decay, of radioactive elements such as uranium and thorium that are naturally occurring inside Earth.

Question 15

For any planetary body, the percentage of incoming radiation that is reflected unchanged is called the ________.

Question 16

________gases selectively absorb radiation in the longer-wavelength, infrared portions of the spectrum of outgoing terrestrial energy.

Question 17

The ________ cycle encompasses the inputs and outputs, pathways, and reservoirs for the energy that drives all of the other cycles of the Earth system.

Question 18

________come from the remains of plants and animals that have been trapped in sedimentary rocks and chemically altered to form fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas.

Question 19

________ energy is drawn from Earth's own internal heat sources.

Question 20

________energy is the heat energy produced during controlled splitting, or fission, of radioactive isotopes.

Question 21

The energy stored in a compressed spring is a type of stored mechanical energy

Question 22

Lifting a heavy rock above your head increases the potential energy of the rock and is an example of doing work

Question 23

When plants perform photosynthesis, new energy is created

Question 24

According to the second law of thermodynamics, electric cars should be 100% efficient

Question 25

Because entropy is always increasing, when a glass of ice melts in an isolated room, the entropy of both the glass of ice and the room increase

Question 26

The conversion of hydrogen into helium by thermonuclear reactions is the source of the Sun's energy

Question 27

The luminosity of the Sun is constant

Question 28

The gamma rays created by nuclear fusion inside the Sun directly reach the surface of the Earth

Question 29

The hotter a radiating body, the shorter the wavelength of its peak radiation is

Question 30

All of the ultraviolet radiation from the Sun that reaches the top of the Earth's atmosphere is absorbed by the stratospheric ozone layer

Question 31

The ocean's tides are primarily caused by changes in the Sun's gravitational field

Question 32

As you go deeper into the Earth's interior, the temperature of the rock increases

Question 33

If the Sun's luminosity suddenly dropped to zero, the surface of the Earth would not cool much due to terrestrial energy sources

Question 34

Deep inside the Earth, rock becomes so hot that convection is possible

Question 35

The Sun alone could supply all the energy necessary for human activities into the foreseeable future

Question 36

A significant portion of the energy from the Sun is converted into heat and stored within the deep interior of the Earth

Question 37

Low concentration or diffuse reservoirs are important when they are massive in size

Question 38

Before humans began to burn fossil fuels, there was no greenhouse effect in the Earth's atmosphere

Question 39

The Sun is the ultimate energy source for biomass, solar, and wind power

Question 40

The second law of thermodynamics constraints the efficiency of energy conversions by human activities

Question 41

Which of the following is not a type of potential energy?

A) radiant energy
B) chemical energy
C) nuclear energy
D) gravitational energy
E) stored mechanical energy

Question 42

Which of the following is not a type of kinetic energy?

A) stored mechanical energy
B) radiant energy
C) electrical energy
D) thermal energy
E) motion of objects

Question 43

The observation that some of the chemical energy in gasoline is lost as heat instead of being converted into kinetic energy (the motion of a car) is an example of:

A) the second law of thermodynamics
B) the first law of thermodynamics
C) the third law of thermodynamics
D) the law of gravity

Question 44

A proposed invention that would create an infinite amount of energy without any inputs would violate:

A) the first law of thermodynamics
B) the second law of thermodynamics
C) the third law of thermodynamics
D) the law of gravity

Question 45

The fact that entropy is always increasing is demonstrated by

A) all of the above
B) clocks run down
C) dead organisms decay
D) ice melts
E) mountains crumble

Question 46

In which of the following processes is the local entropy of an object decreasing?

A) A crystal is formed.
B) A match is burned.
C) Dead organisms decay.
D) Mountains crumble.

Question 47

Why is the Kelvin temperature scale special compared to other temperature scales?

A) It's an absolute scale.
B) It's used in scientific research.
C) It's based on the freezing and melting points of water.
D) It is based on the human experience of temperature.

Question 48

Which of the following potential energy sources is the source of the Sun's energy?

A) nuclear energy
B) chemical energy
C) gravitational energy
D) stored mechanical energy

Question 49

When 4 hydrogen protons combine with 2 electrons to form helium in the Sun, energy is __________ while the mass ____________.

A) released; decreases
B) released; increases
C) released; stays the same
D) absorbed; decreases
E) absorbed; increases

Question 50

The Sun will run out of the hydrogen fuel to burn in about:

A) a thousand years.
B) a million years.
C) a billion years.
D) never-the supply is endless.

Question 51

Nuclear fusion within the Sun process what type of electromagnetic radiation?

A) gamma rays
B) ultraviolet radiation
C) visible light
D) infrared radiation
E) microwaves

Question 52

The Earth intercepts what fraction of the Sun's total output of energy?

A) one 2 billionth
B) one millionth
C) one percent
D) ten percent

Question 53

Which of the following is not a layer within the Sun?

A) stratosphere
B) corona
C) chromosphere
D) photosphere
E) convective layer

Question 54

Which layer of the Sun is responsible for emitting the visible light that reaches Earth?

A) photosphere
B) corona
C) chromosphere
D) convective layer
E) core

Question 55

Which layer of the Earth's atmosphere absorbs ultraviolet radiation from the Sun?

A) stratospheric ozone layer
B) photosphere
C) corona
D) chromosphere
E) convective layer

Question 56

Which of the following statements most accurately describes the causes of tides on Earth?

A) The source of energy for the tides is the influence of gravity on the Earth's rotation.
B) The source of energy for the tides is gravity itself.
C) The tides are simply caused by the Moon's gravity pulling in one direction.
D) The tides are simply caused by the Sun's gravity pulling in one direction.

Question 57

In most places on the Earth, how many oceanic tides are there per day (i.e., number of high tides)?

A) 1
B) 2
C) 3
D) 4

Question 58

The geothermal gradient tells us that:

A) The interior of the Earth is a source of heat, so temperature increases with depth.
B) The interior of the Earth is a source of heat, so temperature decreases with depth.
C) The Sun's energy is warming the interior of the Earth, so temperature increases with depth.
D) The Sun's energy is warming the interior of the Earth, so temperature decreases with depth.

Question 59

Heat that is flowing through the outer-most solid layer of the Earth does so by:

A) conduction
B) convection
C) radiation
D) none of these

Question 60

Inside the Earth, the geothermal gradient is greatest (largest change in temperature with a change in depth) in areas of:

A) conduction
B) convection
C) radiation
D) none of these

Question 61

Which of the following is not a terrestrial source of energy?

A) solar heating
B) radiogenic heat
C) accretionary heat
D) tidal heating
E) core formation

Question 62

_____________ is produced by the spontaneous breakdown, or decay, of radioactive elements such as uranium and thorium that are naturally occurring inside Earth.

A) radiogenic heat
B) solar heating
C) accretionary heat
D) tidal heating
E) core formation

Question 63

This is internal heat left over from the origins of Earth and other planets of our solar system:

A) accretionary heat
B) radiogenic heat
C) solar heating
D) tidal heating
E) core formation

Question 64

Heat released from gravitational settling within the Earth and from liquid iron crystallizing into the solid core is called:

A) core formation
B) accretionary heat
C) radiogenic heat
D) solar heating
E) tidal heating

Question 65

Shortwave radiation energy from the Sun powers all of the following except:

A) tides
B) winds
C) rainfall
D) ocean currents
E) waves

Question 66

Which of the following materials has the highest albedo?

A) snow
B) rocks
C) pavement
D) vegetation

Question 67

Which of the following most accurately describes the Earth's energy cycle?

A) Energy is received from the Sun, some is reflected back to space, and some is absorbed, degraded and eventually reradiated back to space.
B) Energy is received from the Sun, and all of it is absorbed, degraded and eventually reradiated back to space.
C) Energy is received from the Sun, and all of it is eventually reflected back to space.
D) Little energy is received from the Sun, and instead the surface is warmed through terrestrial energy sources.

Question 68

Which of the following statements about the Earth's energy cycle is true?

A) Incoming solar radiation and the terrestrial energy sources equal reflected solar radiation and emitted infrared radiation.
B) Incoming solar radiation and reflected solar radiation equal the terrestrial energy sources and emitted infrared radiation.
C) Incoming solar radiation and emitted infrared radiation equal reflected solar radiation and terrestrial energy sources.
D) Incoming solar radiation, reflected solar radiation and the terrestrial energy sources equal emitted infrared radiation.

Question 69

Comparing the spectrum of radiation received from the Sun to the spectrum emitted by the Earth, which of the following statements is most true?

A) The peak wavelength emitted by the Earth is higher than the peak for the Sun.
B) The peak wavelength emitted by the Earth is lower than the peak for the Sun.
C) Some of the Earth's radiation is absorbed by the atmosphere, but this is not true for the Sun.
D) Some of the Sun's radiation is absorbed by the atmosphere, but this is not true for the Earth.

Question 70

Which of the following is radiatively active gas?

A) all of the above
B) ozone
C) water vapor
D) carbon dioxide

Question 71

Which of the following is not a significant reservoir of heat in the Earth's energy cycle?

A) oceans
B) glaciers
C) atmosphere
D) solid ground
E) all of the above are significant reservoirs

Question 72

Which of the following selections give the correct order from highest to lowest for society's energy sources:

A) fossil fuels, biomass energy, solar energy
B) biomass energy, fossil fuels, solar energy
C) fossil fuels, solar energy, biomass energy
D) biomass energy, solar energy, fossil fuels
E) solar energy, fossil fuels, biomass energy

Question 73

Which of the following sources of energy is drawn from the Earth's own internal heat source?

A) geothermal energy
B) solar energy
C) fossil fuels
D) tidal energy
E) nuclear energy

Question 74

Which of the following statements is true about nuclear energy used for producing electricity?

A) Nuclear energy is produced through the process of fission, while the Sun produces energy through the process of fusion
B) Nuclear energy is produced through the process of fusion, while the Sun produces energy through the process of fission
C) Nuclear energy and the Sun both use fission to produce energy
D) Nuclear energy and the Sun both use fusion to produce energy

Question 75

Which power source is recovered from the potential energy of water?

A) hydroelectric power
B) tidal power
C) wind power
D) solar power