Science Topic Check 3

Air pressure has a very strong effect on the weather. Which of the following best explains what happens to the air pressure when weather gets colder?

• Colder temperatures cause the air to be more tightly packed which increases the air pressure.

• As the temperature drops, the air spreads out and takes up more space which decreases the pressure.

• Cold weather causes Earth to cool, and the heat that leaves Earth pushes against the air and decreases the pressure.

• When the weather is colder, the clouds weigh more as ice begins to form. The heavier clouds increase the air pressure.

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

Antonio observes the weather conditions in the afternoon. He concludes that thunderstorms are likely. Which of the following observations best support Antonio’s conclusion?

• There is a light wind with cirrus clouds.

• The temperature is 23°C (75°F) with cumulus clouds.

• The winds are blowing from the east with stratus clouds.

• The temperature is 23°C (75°F) with cumulonimbus clouds.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

Baxter observed that the air temperature at his home was 22°C in the morning and then it was 22°C again in the afternoon. However, Baxter felt like the morning was hotter than the afternoon and that the air felt moister on his skin. Which of the following statements best explains this observation?

• There was a breeze in the morning and lower humidity.

• There was a rain shower in the morning and lower humidity.

• The air pressure was lower in the morning and there was higher humidity.

• The air temperature was lower in the morning and there was higher humidity.

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

Precipitation is one part of the water cycle. Hail, rain, sleet, and snow are four types of precipitation. Which of the following types of precipitation will most likely occur when the cloud and air temperatures are above freezing and there are stratus clouds overhead?

• snow

• sleet

• rain

• hail

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

The picture shows what a piece of hail can look like on the inside. Which of the following best explains why hail might have layers?

• As hail falls, it picks up layers of dust and dirt from the air.

• Hail forms layers because it melts as it falls towards the Earth.

• Air pressure increases while the hail falls and it causes ice layers to form.

• Ice layers build as hail is blown upwards through areas in a cloud many times.

Rita is speaking with her grandmother on the telephone. Rita’s grandmother says that she thinks there might be a thunderstorm soon. Which of the following questions should Rita ask her grandmother in order to predict whether there will be a thunderstorm?

• What color are the clouds?

• How many clouds are there?

• What type of clouds are there?

• How much cloud cover is there?

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

The weather map on the evening news shows that a high-pressure system with low humidity will stay centered over Tampa tomorrow. What kind of weather can the people in Tampa most likely expect?

• It will be very hot with mostly cloudy skies

• It will be mostly sunny with very little chance of rain.

• It will be very cold with strong thunderstorms all day long.

• It will be rainy with very warm temperatures throughout the day.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

Two towns in Florida have about the same latitudes and elevations. One town is on the coast and the other is far inland. How would summer weather of the inland town most likely be different from the weather in the coastal town?

• lower temperatures and less rainfall

• higher temperatures and less rainfall

• lower temperatures and more rainfall

• higher temperatures and more rainfall

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

The speed and direction of wind can impact the weather in an area. Which of the following most likely describes how Florida’s weather will be impacted by dry winds blowing in from the north?

• The weather will be cooler with low humidity and precipitation.

• The weather will be cooler with high humidity and precipitation.

• The weather will be warmer with low humidity and precipitation.

• The weather will be warmer with high humidity and precipitation

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Different types of precipitation occur all over the Earth. Which of the following best explains the difference between sleet and hail?

• Sleet is usually part of a thunderstorm, and hail comes from thin layers of rain clouds.

• Sleet is smaller than hail and usually falls in the winter, while hail is larger and usually falls in the summer.

• Sleet and hail are the same except that sleet usually falls in the summer and hail usually falls in the winter.

• Sleet is snow that forms as it falls through colder air, and hail starts as rain that freezes when it hits the colder ground.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4