January 2023 Earth Science Regents Parts A and B1

The apparent change in direction of swing of a Foucault pendulum, at one specific location, provides evidence that Earth

• travels around the Sun

• spins on its axis

• has a tilted axis

• has a spherical shape

Answer explanation

A Foucault Pendulum supports Earth's rotation as it appears to change the direction it swings as Earth is moving around the pendulum as it swings back and forth.

The presence of cosmic background radiation is evidence that helps support the

• Big Bang theory

• Plate Tectonic theory

• process of global warming

• process of radioactive decay

Answer explanation

Cosmic background radiation is energy left over from the Big Bang event.

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-2

In New York State, the highest altitude of Polaris will be observed at

• Utica

• Kingston

• Massena

• Old Forge

Answer explanation

Polaris sits over the North Pole. That puts it at a 90° with the horizon which is the same as the North Pole's latitude. As a result, any location in the Northern Hemisphere will have Polaris at an angle that is equal to that location's latitude. Massena is the furthest north of the other locations which means it will have Polaris at the highest angle.

Earth’s rate of revolution is approximately

• 1°/day

• 15°/day

• 23.5°/day

• 360°/day

Answer explanation

Earth takes 365 days to go 360°. Dividing 360°/365 days is about 1°/day.

As water vapor changes phase from gas to liquid, each gram of water vapor

• releases 2260 joules of heat energy

• releases 334 joules of heat energy

• gains 2260 joules of heat energy

• gains 334 joules of heat energy

Answer explanation

According to page 1 of the ESRT, changing from a gas to a liquid (condensation) releases 2260 Joules of energy/gram of water.

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NGSS.MS-PS1-4

NGSS.MS-PS3-4

At the time of an equinox, the subtropical jet streams in Earth’s troposphere generally are located closest to

• 0° and 90° S

• 30° N and 30° S

• 60° N and 60° S

• 90° N and 90° S

Answer explanation

Page 14 of the ESRT shows the location of the global wind patterns, including the jet streams, as seen on the equinoxes.

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

When the dry-bulb temperature is 16°C and the dewpoint is 7°C, what are the wet-bulb temperature and the relative humidity?

• wet-bulb temperature = 9°C and relative humidity = 7%

• wet-bulb temperature = 9°C and relative humidity = 54%

• wet-bulb temperature = 11°C and relative humidity = 7%

• wet-bulb temperature = 11°C and relative humidity = 54%

Answer explanation

On page 12 of the ESRT, find a dry-bulb of 16° on the dewpoint chart. Follow the row over to a dewpoint of 7°. Go up the column to find that the difference between the dry-bulb and wet-bulb of 5°. The wet-bulb must be 11° (16-5) because it cannot be greater than the dry-bulb. Now find a dry-bulb of 16° and a difference of 5° on the relative humidity chart. The point where they meet up is 54%.

Which ocean current warms the climate along a continent’s east coast?

• California Current

• Brazil Current

• Falkland Current

• Guinea Current

Answer explanation

Page 4 of the ESRT shows ocean currents. The Brazil current answer that is a warm current found on the East coast of a continent.

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Which process transfers heat energy through molecular collisions?

• radiation

• convection

• infiltration

• conduction

Two major greenhouse gases that can be found in Earth’s atmosphere are

• carbon dioxide and methane

• methane and nitrogen

• nitrogen and oxygen

• oxygen and carbon dioxide

Answer explanation

Carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) are the only two gases listed here that are good absorbers of infrared heat energy. While nitrous oxide (NO2) is a greenhouse gas, nitrogen is not.