Deck 2: Solar Energy, Seasons, and the Atmosphere

Question 1

In which of the following past Earth atmospheres did photosynthesis begin?

A) living atmosphere
B) modern atmosphere
C) evolutionary atmosphere
D) primordial atmosphere

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Stars give off electromagnetic radiation because

A) matter is converted into energy.
B) matter and energy totally annihilate one another in matter-antimatter reactions.
C) energy is converted into matter.
D) kinetic energy is converted into potential energy.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Which of the following is false regarding sunspots?

A) They can be several times larger than Earth.
B) They can produce flares and prominences.
C) They are brighter than the rest of the Sun's surface.
D) Their origin and dynamics are not fully understood.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

The solar wind consists principally of

A) neutral hydrogen and helium atoms.
B) planetesimals.
C) free neutrons.
D) positively charged hydrogen nuclei and free electrons.

Question 5

The flattened structure of the Milky Way is revealed by

A) the constellations of the Zodiac.
B) a narrow band of hazy light that stretches across the night sky.
C) the alignment of the planets in the solar system.
D) the plane of the ecliptic.

Question 6

Light travels at a speed of approximately

A) 80,500 kilometers per hour (50,000 mph).
B) 300,000 kilometers per hour (186,000 mph).
C) 300,000 kilometers per second (186,000 mps).
D) 1,000,000,000 kilometers per second (621,118,012 miles per second).

Question 7

Our planet and our lives are powered by

A) energy derived from inside Earth.
B) radiant energy from the Sun.
C) utilities and oil companies.
D) shorter wavelengths of gamma rays, X-rays, and ultraviolet.

Question 8

Which of the following is true about the Milky Way galaxy in which we live?

A) It is a spiral-shaped galaxy.
B) It is one of millions of galaxies in the universe.
C) It contains approximately 400 billion stars.
D) All of the above are true.
E) Only A and B are true.

Question 9

On its way to Earth, the solar wind first encounters

A) the atmosphere.
B) the magnetosphere.
C) Earth's surface.
D) the lower atmosphere.

Question 10

The planetesimal hypothesis pertains to the formation of the

A) universe.
B) galaxy.
C) planets.
D) ocean basins.

Question 11

Which of the following is true?

A) The Sun is the largest star in the Milky Way Galaxy.
B) The Milky Way is part of our Solar System.
C) The Sun produces energy through fusion processes.
D) The Sun is also a planet.

Question 12

Which of the following accurately describes Earth's distance from the Sun?

A) The Earth-Sun distance averages 150 million kilometers (93 million miles).
B) It takes light an average of 8 minutes and 20 seconds to travel from the Sun to Earth.
C) Earth is closer to the Sun in January (perihelion) and farther away in July (aphelion).
D) All of these are correct.

Question 13

Earth and the Sun formed specifically from

A) the galaxy.
B) unknown origins.
C) a nebula of dust and gases.
D) other planets.

Question 14

The Sun produces which of the following?

A) mainly visible light and infrared energy
B) mainly ultraviolet and X-rays
C) only solar wind
D) only radiant energy that is beneficial to life

Question 15

Which of the following is true of Earth's orbit about the Sun?

A) It is perfectly circular.
B) It is elliptical.
C) It takes approximately the same time for Earth to orbit the Sun as it does for the rest of the planets in the solar system to orbit the Sun.
D) The orbit does not vary over millions of years.
E) Both B and C are true.

Question 16

Which of the following is false regarding stars?

A) They form in great clouds of gas and dust known as nebula.
B) Very few violent physical phenomena occur in stars.
C) New atoms are created inside stars.
D) Nuclear fusion occurs inside stars.

Question 17

The plane of Earth's orbit about the Sun is called

A) perihelion.
B) aphelion.
C) the plane of the ecliptic.
D) a great circle.

Question 18

Which of the following statements is false?

A) A star and the planets that orbit it make up a solar system.
B) It takes light about 100,000 years to cross our galaxy.
C) A galaxy consists of billions of solar systems.
D) There are more galaxies than stars in the universe.
E) When we look at the stars in the night sky, we are looking back in time.

Question 19

Of all the matter in the Solar System

A) the Sun captured over 99 percent.
B) the bulk remains with all the planets and their satellites.
C) most resides in the planet Jupiter-the largest planet in the solar system.
D) most is scattered about the solar system as individual atoms and molecules.

Question 20

During the process by which energy is produced inside of stars

A) hydrogen is fused together to form helium.
B) helium is fused together to form hydrogen.
C) hydrogen splits to form helium.
D) helium splits to form hydrogen.

Question 21

What is the name of the location on the surface of Earth that receives insolation when the Sun is directly overhead? (When this occurs, the Sun's rays are perpendicular to this surface.)

A) solar point
B) zenith
C) subsolar point
D) North Polar point

Question 22

The uneven distribution of insolation by latitude is primarily a result of

A) variability in the Sun's output.
B) the changing distance of Earth from the Sun.
C) variation in the value of a watt.
D) Earth's sphericity, which presents varied angles to parallel solar rays.

Question 23

A langley is

A) an expression of the amount of energy received per unit area (cal/cm²).
B) another name for the visible light spectrum.
C) solar wind input to the atmosphere.
D) the average energy receipt at Earth's $\underline {\text { surface } }$ .

Question 24

The auroras in the upper atmosphere are caused by

A) the interaction of electromagnetic energy with atmospheric gases.
B) AM radio broadcasts.
C) various weather phenomena.
D) the interaction of the solar wind and atmospheric gases.

Question 25

The two main portions of the solar spectrum that enter the atmosphere are

A) X-rays and visible light.
B) visible and infrared energy.
C) infrared and gamma rays.
D) ultraviolet and visible.

Question 26

Which of the following is true relative to net radiation at the thermopause?

A) Net radiation is evenly distributed with little change by latitude.
B) positive values in lower latitudes and negative values toward the poles
C) negative values along the equator and positive values toward the poles
D) Net radiation is composed of shortwave energy only.

Question 27

At all times during the year, the circle of illumination

A) divides Earth between northern and southern hemispheres.
B) divides Earth into eastern and western halves.
C) separates winter from summer.
D) divides Earth between equal halves of lightness and darkness.

Question 28

Earth's magnetosphere is generated by

A) nuclear fusion in Earth's core.
B) nuclear fission in Earth's core.
C) dynamo-like motions in Earth's interior.
D) gravitational accretion.

Question 29

The dominant wavelength of energy emitted by the sun is

A) shorter than that emitted by Earth.
B) longer than that emitted by Earth.
C) the same length as that emitted by Earth.

Question 30

Which of the following sequences is arranged in order from shorter wavelength to longer wavelength?

A) infrared, visible, ultraviolet, X-rays
B) X-rays, ultraviolet, visible, infrared
C) gamma rays, microwaves, visible, X-rays
D) radio waves, light, heat, X-rays

Question 31

The solar constant is measured at

A) the Sun's surface.
B) the edge of the Sun's atmosphere.
C) the tropopause.
D) sea level.

Question 32

1372 watts per square meter (2 calories per cm², per minute) refers to the

A) solar constant, which is the average value of energy received at the thermopause.
B) solar wind input to the atmosphere.
C) average energy receipt at Earth's surface.
D) amount of energy absorbed by the atmosphere.

Question 33

On the northern hemisphere's summer solstice, the north polar region receives ________ daily insolation than areas nearer the equator because ________.

A) more; the Sun does not set
B) more; the Sun is higher in the sky
C) less; the Sun does not rise
D) less; the Sun is lower in the sky

Question 34

Intercepted solar radiation is called

A) solar wind.
B) thermosphere.
C) solar constant.
D) insolation.

Question 35

The thermopause refers to

A) Earth's magnetic field.
B) the solar atmosphere that extends into space.
C) the top of Earth's atmosphere, some 480 km (300 mi.) above the surface.
D) the Sun's surface.

Question 36

Astronauts deployed a solar wind measuring experiment on the Moon because

A) the lunar surface is protected by an atmosphere.
B) there is no electromagnetic energy arriving there.
C) the experiment would not work if deployed at Earth's surface due to protective aspects of Earth's atmosphere.
D) there is no solar wind arriving at the lunar surface.

Question 37

Which of the following is $\underline { \text { not } }$ a consequence of the solar wind?

A) auroras
B) disruption of radio communications
C) overloads of electrical systems
D) creation of Earth's magnetosphere

Question 38

Which of the following have been correlated with sunspot cycles?

A) abnormally wet years
B) droughts
C) both A and B
D) none of the above

Question 39

Radio waves have a ________ wavelength than visible light and are therefore ________ energetic.

A) longer; less
B) longer; more
C) shorter; less
D) shorter; more

Question 40

The amount of energy received above the South Pole during the southern hemisphere's summer solstice is ________ than that received above the North Pole during the northern hemisphere's summer solstice because ________.

A) more; the atmosphere is thinner above the South Pole
B) more; Earth is closer to the Sun during the southern hemisphere's summer solstice
C) less; the atmosphere is thicker above the South Pole
D) less; Earth is farther from the Sun during the southern hemisphere's summer solstice

Question 41

The sun's declination migrates through

A) 23.5 degrees.
B) 30 degrees.
C) 47 degrees.
D) 66.5 degrees.
E) 133 degrees.

Question 42

Which of the following characterizes Earth's $\underline {\text { revolution } }$ ?

A) It takes approximately 24 hours.
B) It is responsible for creating the circle of illumination, and hence, day/night relationships.
C) It is clockwise when viewed from above the North Pole.
D) It determines the timing of seasons and length of the year.

Question 43

On Earth, the Sun passes directly overhead at 25 degrees north latitude ________ times a year.

A) 0
B) 1
C) 2
D) 4

Question 44

Which of the following is true regarding dawn and twilight?

A) Dawn and twilight last longest at the equator-approximately 2.5 hours.
B) The polar regions do not experience dawn and twilight.
C) 60 degrees north and south latitudes receive the most dawn and twilight.
D) The duration of both increases with increasing latitude.

Question 45

Which of the following relationships is incorrect?

A) December solstice - subsolar point at 23.5 degrees S latitude
B) March equinox - subsolar point at 0 degrees latitude
C) June 21 - subsolar point at 23.5 degrees N latitude
D) June solstice - subsolar point at 23.5 degrees N latitude
E) September equinox - subsolar point at 23.5 degrees S latitude

Question 46

On June 21, the Sun never sets at Finn's location. Based on this, it can be concluded that Finn lives

A) between the Tropic of Cancer and the Arctic Circle.
B) between the Tropic of Capricorn and the Antarctic Circle.
C) North of the Arctic Circle.
D) South of the Antarctic Circle.

Question 47

The Tropic of Capricorn refers to

A) that parallel that is 23.5 degrees south latitude.
B) the location of the subsolar point on September 22.
C) the parallel that is the farthest northern location for the subsolar point during the year.
D) that parallel that is 66.5 degrees south latitude.

Question 48

Which of the following results from radiation imbalances at different latitudes?

A) hurricanes
B) global winds
C) ocean currents
D) all of these
E) none of the above

Question 49

While standing at the Tropic of Cancer, Emma's shadow points north at noon (sun time). Based on this, which of the following can be $\underline { \text { definitely } }$ concluded?

A) It must be the summer solstice.
B) It must be the winter solstice.
C) It must be one of the equinoxes.
D) It must not be the summer solstice.
E) It must not be the winter solstice.

Question 50

The Sun's $\underline { \text { altitude } }$ refers to

A) the angular distance from the equator to the latitude at which direct overhead insolation is received.
B) the angular height of the Sun above the horizon.
C) the subsolar point.
D) how far the Sun is from Earth.

Question 51

The equinox

A) occurs four times during the year.
B) has twelve hours of day and 12 hours of night for all locations.
C) is the longest day of the year at any given place.
D) is when the subsolar point is at one of the tropics.

Question 52

Earth's rotation is described as

A) east to west.
B) north to south.
C) west to east.
D) clockwise when viewed from above the North Pole.

Question 53

The longest days of the year in the $\underline {\text { Southern } }$ Hemisphere are experienced during the $\underline {\text { Northern }}$ Hemisphere's

A) summer solstice.
B) spring equinox.
C) winter solstice.
D) autumn equinox.

Question 54

Which of the following is true regarding daylength?

A) The equator experiences at least 6 hours difference in daylength from winter to summer.
B) Nowhere on Earth does daylength vary by as much as 24 hours.
C) Daylength varies more at the equator than at higher latitudes.
D) The people living at 40 degrees N or S latitude experience about six hours difference in daylength from winter to summer.

Question 55

Which of the following is true regarding Earth's axis?

A) The amount of axial tilt fluctuates during the year and forms the basis for seasonal changes.
B) The axis remains parallel to the plane of the ecliptic.
C) Axial tilt is unrelated to the phenomenon of seasonal change.
D) The axis is tilted 23.5 degrees from a perpendicular to the plane of the ecliptic.

Question 56

Air consists of

A) a mixture of gases that behaves as if it were a single gas.
B) gases that are not well mixed.
C) oxygen only.
D) all of the above

Question 57

The longest days of the year in the Northern Hemisphere are experienced during the

A) time of 24-hour days at the South Pole.
B) vernal equinox.
C) winter solstice.
D) autumnal equinox.
E) time that the Sun is directly overhead at the Tropic of Cancer.

Question 58

Which of the following statements is true?

A) December 21 = vernal equinox
B) September 22 = summer solstice in Australia
C) March 21 = equal day and nights everywhere on Earth
D) June 21 = equal day and nights everywhere on Earth
E) December 21 = subsolar point at the Tropic of Cancer

Question 59

Which of the following is false regarding rotational velocities at different latitudes?

A) At 90 degrees latitude, the rotational velocity is 1452 kmph (902 mph).
B) At 0 degrees latitude, the rotational velocity is 1675 kmph (1040 mph).
C) At 60 degrees latitude, the rotational velocity is 838 kmph (521 mph).
D) At 30 degrees latitude, the rotational velocity is 1449 kmph (900 mph).

Question 60

The Tropic of Cancer refers to

A) that parallel that occurs at 23.5 degrees south latitude.
B) the location of the subsolar point on September 22.
C) the parallel that is the farthest northern location for the subsolar point during the year.
D) 0 degrees latitude when the Sun crosses the equator.

Question 61

The two most abundant gases in the atmosphere are

A) water vapor and carbon dioxide.
B) nitrogen and water vapor.
C) nitrogen and oxygen.
D) oxygen and carbon dioxide.

Question 62

About half of Earth's crust consists of compounds containing

A) nitrogen.
B) argon.
C) carbon dioxide.
D) oxygen.
E) ozone.

Question 63

The thermosphere closely corresponds to the

A) ionosphere.
B) heterosphere.
C) homosphere.
D) exosphere.
E) both the ionosphere and the heterosphere.

Question 64

Oxygen (O₂) is

A) a gas that principally originates from volcanic sources.
B) a by-product of plant-leaf operations that are stimulated by light.
C) one of the gases from Earth's earliest atmospheres.
D) now measured at 78.084 percent by volume in the homosphere.

Question 65

The ozonosphere is critical to life because it

A) affects temperatures.
B) absorbs visible light wavelengths.
C) absorbs most ultraviolet wavelengths.
D) produces the auroras.

Question 66

Based on composition, the atmosphere is divided into

A) one continuous region.
B) two broad classifications: homosphere and heterosphere.
C) two functional areas that absorb radiation from the Sun.
D) the troposphere and the stratosphere.

Question 67

Temperatures within the stratosphere

A) decrease with altitude according to the normal lapse rate.
B) remain about the same from the tropopause to the stratopause.
C) increase with altitude because of the absorption of ultraviolet radiation.
D) decrease with altitude due to radiation losses.

Question 68

Which of the following lists the correct sequence of gases, from most to least, in terms of percentage within the homosphere?

A) nitrogen, argon, oxygen, xenon, carbon dioxide
B) nitrogen, oxygen, argon, carbon dioxide, trace gases
C) oxygen, PAN, ozone, nitrogen, carbon dioxide
D) nitrogen, oxygen, neon, hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide

Question 69

A by-product of photosynthesis is

A) nitrogen.
B) argon.
C) oxygen.
D) xenon.

Question 70

The three stable (i.e., nonvariable) gases in the atmosphere, in order of abundance from most to least, are

A) carbon dioxide, argon, and oxygen.
B) oxygen, carbon dioxide, and argon.
C) nitrogen, oxygen, and argon.
D) oxygen, argon, and nitrogen.

Question 71

The solar constant is measured at

A) the outer boundary of the exosphere.
B) the outer boundary of the thermosphere.
C) the top of the stratosphere.
D) the top of the troposphere.
E) Earth's surface at the equator.

Question 72

Based on temperature, the atmosphere is divided into

A) four regions: ranging from the troposphere to the thermosphere.
B) two broad regions.
C) two functional areas that absorb radiation from the Sun.
D) nitrogen, oxygen, and argon.

Question 73

When the Sun is active,

A) the thermopause lies closer to Earth's surface.
B) the thermopause extends farther from the surface of Earth.
C) the thermosphere temporarily ceases to exist.
D) the gases in the thermosphere become uniformly mixed.

Question 74

Which of the following is true of the ionosphere?

A) It primarily absorbs harmful infrared wavelengths.
B) All radio signals pass through this region virtually unaffected.
C) The region principally absorbs gamma rays, X-rays, and interacts with the solar wind.
D) It is being depleted through interactions with human-produced chlorofluorocarbons.

Question 75

The heterosphere is the layer of the atmosphere in which the gases are ________ because of ________.

A) well mixed; thermal motions (i.e., convection)
B) well mixed; the influence of gravity which causes gases of different weight to diffuse randomly
C) poorly mixed; thermal motions (i.e., convection)
D) poorly mixed; the influence of gravity which causes gases of different weight to separate into layers

Question 76

Life is possible on Earth primarily because

A) gamma rays and X-rays reach the surface.
B) the ozonosphere and ionosphere shield the surface from harmful radiation.
C) variable gases of all types exist in the atmosphere.
D) ultraviolet radiation reaches the surface.

Question 77

The region of the atmosphere that is so evenly mixed that it behaves as if it were a single gas is the

A) homosphere.
B) heterosphere.
C) exosphere.
D) thermosphere.

Question 78

Three criteria used for classification of the atmosphere are

A) structure, origin, temperature.
B) structure, origin, evolution.
C) composition, origin, evolution.
D) composition, temperature, and function.

Question 79

Which of the following is true regarding the depletion of ozone in the ozonosphere?

A) The depletion is restricted to the arctic and antarctic regions.
B) It results from chemical reactions with chlorine that is derived from CFCs.
C) It results from the burning of fossil fuels.
D) There is little scientific evidence to support the idea that ozone is being depleted as a result of human activity.

Question 80

Based on function, the atmosphere has

A) five regions beginning with the outermost thermosphere.
B) two functional areas that absorb radiation from the Sun.
C) one continuous region.
D) the troposphere and the stratosphere.