Chapter 7 PPT

Question 1

What are the four forces that control the movement of air

Answer 1

• Pressure Gradient Force
• Gravitational Force
• Frictional Force
• Coriolis Force

Question 2

What can a Force be thought of doing?

Answer 2

A force can be thought of as a push or a pull

Question 3

Pressure Gradient

Answer 3

The rate at which pressure changes with distance

Question 4

Pressure Gradient Force

Answer 4

The force applied on an air parcel due to pressure differences

Question 5

On a surface pressure map is the Pressure Gradient Force always perpendicular to the isobars from high to low pressure?

Answer 5

Yes

Question 6

If vertical pressure gradient is so strong, why doesn’t the air just shoot off into space?

Answer 6

Gravitational force opposes the vertical PGF

Question 7

Frictional Force

Answer 7

A drag force acting in a direction opposite the motion of the air

Question 8

is frictional force strongest closest to the surface of the earth?

Answer 8

Yes it is

Question 9

Gravitational Force

Answer 9

Exerts a gravitational pull on the atmosphere that is always directed down towards the center of the earth.

Question 10

What three causes that create turbulence in the atmosphere?

Answer 10

• Mechanical force
• Thermal Turbulence
• Shear Induced Turbulence

Question 11

What is Mechanical Turbulence?

Answer 11

Air encounters obstructions on the surface

Question 12

What is Thermal Turbulence?

Answer 12

Heated air rises and mixes with the air above

Question 13

What is Shear Induced Turbulence?

Answer 13

Seen when wind speed changes rapidly over a short distance

Question 14

How deep is the frictional layer?

Answer 14

it varies from 100’s to 1000’s of meters.

Question 15

Which situation would likely result in the highest atmospheric boundary layer (Largest amount of turbulence)?

Answer 15

High winds over boulder during a hot summer day

Question 16

Coriolis Force

Answer 16

An apparent force due to Earths rotation

Question 17

What do you call it when you have, Conservation of angular momentum, and centrifugal force?

Answer 17

The Coriolis Force

Question 18

What direction do objects turn in the Northern hemisphere because of the Coriolis force?

Answer 18

Objects turn right towards the equator.

Question 19

What direction do objects in the southern hemisphere because of the Coriolis force?

Answer 19

Objects turn left towards the equator.

Question 20

Can the Coriolis force affect the direction of motion of an object?

Answer 20

Yes

Question 21

Can the Coriolis force change the speed of objects?

Answer 21

No

Question 22

Is the Coriolis force zero at the equator?

Answer 22

Yes, and increases to a maximum at the poles.

Question 23

Newtons first law of Motion

Answer 23

An object at rest will remain at rest and an object in motion will remain in motion traveling at a constant speed in a straight line as long as their is no force exerted on the object.

Question 24

Acceleration

Answer 24

A change in speed or direction

Question 25

Newtons second law of motion?

Answer 25

The force exerted on an object equals its mass times its acceleration

Question 26

Hydrostatic Balance?

Answer 26

The upward directed PGF is exactly balanced by the downward directed gravitational force.

Question 27

Geostrophic Balance

Answer 27

The Horizontal PGF is balanced by the Coriolis Force

Question 28

Does the PGF always go from high to low pressure always?

Answer 28

Yes, Pressure Gradient Force, always goes from high to low pressure

Question 29

Geostrophic Wind?

Answer 29

The wind that would exist if the atmosphere were in geostrophic balance

Question 30

Does the Geostrophic Wind Always go along with the Isobars?

Answer 30

Yes

Question 31

Jetstream

Answer 31

A Narrow band of strong winds that encircle the earth in the mid latitudes.