August 2022 Earth Science Regents Part A and B1

Compared to the masses and densities of terrestrial planets, Jovian planets have

• less mass and are less dense

• less mass and are more dense

• greater mass and are less dense

• greater mass and are more dense

Answer explanation

Page 15 of the ESRT shows that Jovian planets are farther from the Sun, have longer periods of revolution, larger equatorial diameters, higher masses, and lower densities.

The star Vega has an average surface temperature of 10,000 K and has a luminosity 70 times greater than that of the Sun. Which type of star is Vega?

• supergiant

• giant

• white dwarf

• main sequence

Answer explanation

Page 15 of the ESRT shows that stars with a temperature of 10,000 K and a luminosity of 70 is considered a main sequence star.

The diagram represents the Moon at one position in its orbit around Earth. Which diagram represents the phase of the Moon as viewed by an observer in New York State when the Moon is located at the position shown?

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Answer explanation

Covering up the side of the moon facing away from Earth shows a moon that is mostly light on the right and small amount of dark on the left.

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-4

The diagram represents latitudes and longitudes on Earth. Locations A and B are surface locations. The solar time difference between location A and location B is

• 5 hours

• 2 hours

• 3 hours

• 6 hours

Answer explanation

Each line is 15 degrees of longitude apart. Since Earth's rate of rotation is 15 degrees per hours, and A and B are 5 lines apart, A and B must be 5 hours apart.

The constellation Orion can be observed from New York State in the night sky during winter, but it can not be observed in the night sky during summer due to

• Earth's rotation on its axis

• Earth's revolution around the Sun

• Orion's rotation on its axis

• Orion's revolution around Earth

Answer explanation

As Earth revolves around the Sun, the night-time side of Earth faces toward different parts of space. This changes the constellations that we can see at different times of the year.

What is Earth’s approximate rate of movement along its orbit?

• 1° per day

• 1° per hour

• 15° per day

• 15° per hour

Answer explanation

Earth moves 360 degrees in 365 days. This works out to about 1 degree per day.

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-4

The graph shows the possible distances, in millions of kilometers, that a planet could be from a star in order to possibly support life as we know it (the Habitable Zone), based on the star’s surface temperature in Kelvin (K). The location of Earth has been plotted based on our Sun’s surface temperature of 5778 K. Which planet in our solar system would be in the Habitable Zone, if the Sun's surface temperature was 4000 K?

• Mercury

• Venus

• Mars

• Jupiter

Answer explanation

At 4000 K, the graph shows that the habitable zone is about 58 million km from the star. This is about how far Mercury is from the Sun.

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS3-5

The map shows the location of Chicxulub Crater, formed approximately 65 million years ago by an asteroid impact. This impact crater has been most closely linked to

• meteor showers

• worldwide mass extinction

• the eccentricity of Earth's orbit

• the formation of the Gulf of Mexico

Answer explanation

The age of the impact crater is about the age of rocks that we find the last dinosaur fossils. We do not find any dinosaur fossils in rocks any younger than this.

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS2-2

NGSS.HS-LS4-5

The weather map shows isobars that are labeled in millibars (mb). Three isobars are labeled X, Y, and Z. What are the values for the isobars labeled X, Y, and Z?

• X = 1012 mb; Y = 1016 mb; Z = 1000 mb

• X = 1010 mb; Y = 1016 mb; Z = 1008 mb

• X = 1010 mb; Y = 1024 mb; Z = 1000 mb

• X = 1012 mb; Y = 1024 mb; Z = 1008 mb

Answer explanation

The interval for the isobars is 4 mb. A is closest to 1008, which makes it 1012. B is between 1008 and 1012 and 1020 which makes it 1016. C is between 1004 and 996 which makes it 1000.

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS2-2

NGSS.HS-ESS2-4

Which cross section best represents the general atmospheric circulation over the North Pole?

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Answer explanation

On page 14 of the ESRT the Planetary Wind Belt diagram shows the movement of the air above the North Pole. Air sinks at the North Pole due to the very cold temperatures found there.