Module 3 Lessons 1 and 2 quiz Study guide for science

Question 1

Radiation

Answer 1

Heat transfer through electromagnetic waves

Question 2

Conduction

Answer 2

Heat transfer through direct contact of particles

Question 3

Latitude

Answer 3

A measure of how far north or south something is from the equator

Question 4

Equator

Answer 4

The horizontal line that divides the earth between the northern and southern hemispheres. It receives the most sunlight.

Question 5

Tropics

Answer 5

The furthest point from the equator where the sun can still be seen directly overhead.

Question 6

poles

Answer 6

The very top and bottom of the Earth that receive the smallest amount of sunlight.

Question 7

Absorption

Answer 7

The amount of light that an object takes in

Question 8

Albedo

Answer 8

A measure of how much light an object reflects. A high albedo means an object reflects a lot of light, and thus heats up slower.

Question 9

How does the sun heat the earth

Answer 9

by radiation

Question 10

How does radiation transfer energy

Answer 10

By electromagnetic waves

Question 11

why Is the earth heated unevenly

Answer 11

The equator is closer to the sun, so the radiation from the sun is spread out over less area. This causes the equator to receive more heat than further out on Earth.

Question 12

what is the latitude at the equator

Answer 12

0°

Question 13

what is the latitude at the poles

Answer 13

for the north pole, 90° N, and for the south pole, 90° S

Question 14

Are there more deserts at the equator or the tropics

Answer 14

there are more tropics at the equator because Rain forests are more common at the equator. This is due to global wind patterns and how clouds are formed.

Question 15

what is specific heat

Answer 15

The amount of thermal energy required to increase the temperature of 1Kg of a material by 1°C

Question 16

which has a higher specific heat, sand or water?

Answer 16

water because it has 6 times higher specific heat than land

Question 17

which will heat up faster, the beach or the ocean

Answer 17

The beach, due to being made of sand which has a lower specific heat than water.

Question 18

which will release energy faster, sand or water

Answer 18

sand

Question 19

which will release energy for longer, sand or water

Answer 19

water

Question 20

why are deserts cold at night

Answer 20

Sand releases its heat very quickly, so there is nothing to actually hold the temperature and release it overnight, such as what water does.

Question 21

what are some things that have high albedo

Answer 21

highly reflective things

Question 22

what are colors of things that have high albedo

Answer 22

lighter color, so things such as snow, white paper, or clouds.

Question 23

what are some things that have low albedo

Answer 23

highly absorbent

Question 24

what are colors of things that have low albedo

Answer 24

darker color, such as brown soil, black clothing, and the open ocean.

Question 25

wind

Answer 25

Movements of air that are caused by changes in pressure. High pressure areas want to spread out to have less pressure, which we feel as wind.

Question 26

convection

Answer 26

The transfer of heat through currents. For example, hotter things are less dense so they rise, causing heat transfer.

Question 27

Global winds

Answer 27

The major movement of air across Earth’s surface in constant, predictable patterns. This is facilitated by the six major convection cells across Earth’s surface.

Question 28

polar easterlies

Answer 28

The wind system formed by the poles. It flows to the east, and moves because the lack of heat causes the air to be very cold, meaning it has a high density and thus pressure. The air travels inwards and transfers heat away from the equator, cooling the Earth.

Question 29

prevailing westerlies

Answer 29

The wind system that lies in between the poles and the equator. It circulates due to receiving heat from the equator, and the flow of heat out from the poles. This causes it to flow in the opposite direction of the other wind systems, instead going to the west (with the Earth’s rotation.)

Question 30

trade winds

Answer 30

The wind system formed by the equator receiving more heat than anywhere else on Earth. This heat transfers out away from the equator, resulting in changes in pressure temperature that cause steady wind currents. These flow outwards from the equator in each direction, moving east due to the coriolis effect.

Question 31

Coriolis effect

Answer 31

When the Earth spins on its axis, more speed is required at the equator since it is a larger ring than at the poles. When wind travels away from the equator, it is thus traveling faster. This difference in speed causes objects to appear to bend, making wind and water currents on Earth all appear to curve as they traverse the Earth.

Question 32

density current

Answer 32

When something heats up, it causes it to expand in volume. This causes it to be less dense, making it rise. When something loses heat, it contracts in volume, causing it to sink as it is denser.

Question 33

surface currents

Answer 33

Wind travelling across the surface of the Earth will transfer some of their momentum to the surface of water. This causes the water to move and be pushed away.

Question 34

upwelling

Answer 34

When water on the surface is pushed away, water underneath will rise, even if it normally would not be able to due to pressure or temperature. This carries nutrients, minerals, and colder water to the surface, while warmer water is able to reach further down.

Question 35

what is air pressure

Answer 35

Air pressure is a measure of how much pressure is in the air- that is, colder air is denser, so it will exert more pressure., since more of it is packed in a smaller area.

Question 36

what causes air pressure to change in the atmosphere

Answer 36

It changes because pressure wants to equalize to be the same everywhere, meaning high pressure areas will flow into low pressure areas.

Question 37

what are changes in air pressure felt as

Answer 37

wind

Question 38

describe the relationship between temperature and pressure

Answer 38

In the environment, heat causes less pressure as the air is able to spread out and take up more space with less particles. In a closed system (like a plastic bottle), the lack of space may cause pressure to increase when heat increases due to there not being enough space.

Question 39

describe the relationship between temperature and density

Answer 39

As temperature increases, density will decrease. When temperature increases particles move faster, causing them to take up more space. As a result, they spread out and are less dense.

Question 40

what are convection cells

Answer 40

Convection cells are consistent currents that transfer heat around the globe. For example, the equator heats up more than the rest of the world so heat travels outwards from the equator, but eventually reaches a point where it cools enough that the cycle begins to repeat.

Question 41

how many convection cells are there

Answer 41

On Earth there are six convection cells; 3 on each side of the equator.

Question 42

what are the 3 global wind systems and what direction do they each flow in

Answer 42

polar easterlies- cold winds blow from east to west near the north and south poles. Prevailing westerlies- steady winds that flow from west to east. trade winds- steady winds that flow from east to west between 30°n latitude and 30°s latitude.

Question 43

what causes wind to appear to bend

Answer 43

Coriolis effect

Question 44

how does geography affect the formation of convection currents and cells

Answer 44

Geography is going to change how wind and water are able to travel. On a flat planet without water, only two convection cells would form- one for the northern hemisphere, and one for the southern hemisphere. Earth’s abundance of water and landmasses allows additional convection cells to form, which otherwise would not be possible.

Question 45

what causes surface currents

Answer 45

Wind pushes the top layer of the water away, causing movement on the surface of water.

Question 46

how do surface currents contribute to upwelling

Answer 46

When surface currents move water, the water underneath is able to rise, causing upwelling.

Question 47

what does upwelling bring to the surface

Answer 47

Nutrients and minerals

Question 48

what does upwelling bring deeper to the ocean

Answer 48

warm water

Question 49

why do ocean currents flow in predictable patterns and directions

Answer 49

Ocean currents are caused by changes in temperature, density, and also wind. Since heat is always hitting Earth in the same way at the equator, the transfer of heat will always occur in the same way, and cause the ocean to make a familiar and predictable “conveyor belt” that goes across the ocean.

Question 50

why do gyres in the northern hemisphere travel in the opposite direction as in the southern hemisphere

Answer 50

Ocean currents are caused by changes in temperature, density, and also wind. Since heat is always hitting Earth in the same way at the equator, the transfer of heat will always occur in the same way, and cause the ocean to make a familiar and predictable “conveyor belt” that goes across the ocean.