4.3 - Earth and the Sun

Which of these is the warming of the surface and lower atmosphere of Earth that occurs when carbon dioxide, water vapor, and other gases in the air absorb are re-radiate infrared radiation?

a. radiation

b. thermal heat

c. greenhouse effect

d. electromagnetic energy

c.

What does the Milankovitch theory attempt to explain?

a. Global Warming

b. causes of ice ages

c. patterns of weather

d. formation of Great Lakes

b.

Which of these materials would reflect the most sunlight at solar noon?

a. soil

b. slate

c. water

d. snow

d.

Assuming other factors remained unchanged, what would happen to the surface temperature on Earth if large amounts of carbon dioxide were removed from the atmosphere?

a. Surface temperatures would increase

b. Surface temperatures would decrease

c. There would be no change in surface temperatures

d. Surface temperatures would increase in the Northern Hemisphere but decrease in the Southern Hemisphere

b.

If the axial tilt of Earth were to increase from 23.5 degrees to 27.5 degrees, how would our summers change in Edwardsville?

a. Summers would be hotter

b. Summers would be colder

c. Summers would be shorter

d. Summers would last longer

a.

If Earth’s orbit of the sun was more circular, what would happen to the variation in the amount of solar energy Earth receives during the year?

a. The variation in solar energy received would increase

b. The variation in solar energy received would decrease

c. The variation in solar energy received would decrease but only at high latitudes.

d. There would be no effect on the amount of solar energy received throughout the year.

b.

What evidence demonstrates the interaction between Earth’s magnetic field and solar wind?

a. spring tides

b. solar eclipse

c. aurora borealis

d. greenhouse effect

c.

What are the southern lights called

a. aurora borealis

b. aurora australis

c. southern aurora

d. aurora antarctica

b.

What landscape would reflect the most light?

a. arctic

b. tropical

c. desert

d. plains

a.

The hottest planet in our solar system is

a. Mercury

b. Venus

c. Earth

d. Jupiter

b.

If the Earth’s axis were to form a 90-degree angle straight up and down, we would no longer have

a. Seasons

b. Life

c. Weather

d. Climate

a.

The more sunspots we see the…

a. more sunsets we receive

b. faster the sun spins

c. more auroras we are likely to see

d. dimmer the sun looks to us on Earth

c.

The Maunder Minimum was a mini ice age in the late 1600’s believed to be created by

a. a lack of greenhouse gases.

b. a long term El Nino.

c. a decrease of solar energy because of a weaker number of sunspots.

d. humans burning too many fossil fuels.

c.

The furthest point the sun reaches in the northern hemisphere is called

a. Equator

b. Edwardsville

c. Tropic of Cancer

d. Tropic of Capricorn

c.

If I had trouble sleeping when it is daylight outside, I would want to avoid ________________ during the ________________.

a. North Pole, Summer

b. North Pole, Winter

c. Equator, Summer

d. South Pole, Winter

a.

We know the exact second the vernal equinox occurs, (the first day of spring). This is because the sun is directly about the

a. Moon

b. Equator

c. Tropic of Cancer

d. Earth

b.

Our axis has been and will continue to point at _________________, for the rest of our lives.

a. Sun

b. Vega

c. Polaris

d. Big Dipper

c.

On June 21-22, the sun is as far North as it will ever get. If I wanted to see the sun directly overhead of me on that day I would have to travel to what city?

a. Mexico City, Mexico

b. Miami, Florida

c. St. Louis, Missouri

d. Minneapolis, Minnesota

a.

When it is summer in Australia, it is

a. fall in the US

b. winter in the US

c. spring in the US

d. summer in the US

b.

Which of the following methods would scientists use to determine global changes in Earth’s climate over time?

a. examining ice cores

b. examining tree rings

c. examining sedimentary strata

d. examining glacial eccentrics

e. all can be used to examine climate

e.

How does high albedo affect the planetary climate?

a. high planetary albedo means more sunlight is reflected, and the planet cools

b. high planetary albedo means less sunlight is reflected, and the planet warms

c. high planetary albedo means more sunlight is reflected, and the planet warms

d. high planetary albedo means less sunlight is reflected, and the planet cools

a.

All of the following affect tides on Earth EXCEPT

a. Gravitational pull from the moon

b. Earthquakes and plate tectonic movement

c. Gravitational pull from the Sun

d. Earth’s rotation

b.

Which of the following would NOT cause our climate to become more stable?

a. Earth’s axis pointed straight up and down perpendicular to the sun.

b. The sun located in the direct center of Earth’s orbit.

c. The sun staying the same brightness, with the same energy output for the rest of time.

d. Eliminating plate tectonics and keeping them in the same positions around the Earth.

e. All of the above would give our planets climate more stability.

e.

If the Earth did not have a moon, we would not have tides.

a. True

b. False

b.

Which of the following statements is true?

a. We are living during a time where the earth is hotter that it has ever been.

b. Clouds and water vapor is a greenhouse gas.

c. If humans were not burning fossil fuels, the Earth would be approaching an ice age.

d. When massive volcanoes erupt, such as Mt. Tambora, the heat and lava produces cause the Earth to heat up, melting ice.

e. The sun is highest in the sky each day at 12pm, here in Edwardsville, Illinois.

b.

Eccentricity is a measure of how stretched an elliptical orbit is. Which object in the solar system would have the greatest eccentricity?

a. outer planets

b. inner planets

c. the sun

d. comets

d.

As the planet warms, which outcome is the most likely to happen?

a. Earth’s magnetic field will weaken, causing more solar particles from the sun to hit the surface of Earth.

b. Ice will melt and the salinity of the oceans will increase, causing them to become saltier.

c. The atmosphere will hold more water vapor, a greenhouse gas that will increase warming, and potentially cause more severe weather.

d. Ice will melt and the planetary albedo will INCREASE.

c.