Sun's Uneven Heating/Heat Transfer

Convection currents in the atmosphere influence many weather patterns.

What property of the air has the most influence on convection currents?

• the direction of the wind

• the velocity of the wind

• the temperature of the air

• the mass of the air

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

The global movement of air occurs in convection cells.

In general, how does air move?

• From areas of higher temperature to areas of lower temperature

• from areas of lower temperature to areas of higher temperature

• from areas of higher pressure to areas of lower pressure

• from areas of lower pressure to areas of higher pressure

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Jovan is studying how Earth is warmed by sunlight. The following illustration shows his model of the sun and Earth. Which process is mostly responsible for warming the soil in Jovan’s model?

• conduction between the lamp and the soil causes the soil to warm

• convection currents between the lamp and the soil cause the soil to warm

• expansion of particles in the soil causes the soil to warm

• radiation from the lamp reaches the soil and causes the soil to warm

Leidy placed an ice cube in a tray of warm water. The following picture shows her investigation. Which statement describes the energy transfer that happens in Leidy’s investigation?

• energy in the form of heat is transferred from the ice cube to the water by radiation

• energy in the form of heat is transferred from the water to the ice cube by radiation

• energy in the form of heat is transferred from the ice cube to the water by conduction

• energy in the form of heat is transferred from the water to ice cube by conduction

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

The arrows in the picture below show several ways heat is transferred from the Sun as it strikes sand on the surface of a beach. Which arrow shows convection?

• 1

• 2

• 3

• 4

Throughout the day, Matthew and Mia measure the temperature of lake water as it is warmed by the sun. The following table shows their data at four different times. At what time was the thermal energy of the lake water the greatest?

• 9 a.m.

• 11 a.m.

• 3 p.m.

• 5 p.m.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

If you visit the beach on a hot summer day you will probably feel a sea breeze coming off the water onto the land. 

Which of the following causes this sea breeze?

• during the day, solar radiation warms the land more than the water

• the water is warmer than the land during the day

• Earth is tilted toward the Sun, causing air to move inland from the water

• hurricanes that form in the oceans blow air into the shore

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

When energy from the sun reaches the air above land, the air warms and rises. Along a coastline, cooler air above the ocean flows toward the land to replace this rising air. Which of the following best describe these processes?

• conduction and convection

• radiation and convection

• conduction, convection and radiation

• radiation and conduction

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

If you were to measure the temperature of the land and the water in this diagram, what would you expect to find?

• the land would be warmer because it receives more light energy from the Sun

• the water would be cooler because it reflects more heat from the Sun than land does

• the water would be warmer because it reflects most heat and sends it into the atmosphere

• the land would be warmer because the sand below the surface warms the sand above the surface

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

NGSS.MS-PS3-4

The Sun's energy warms the atmosphere, the oceans, and the land surfaces of the Earth. This produces and affects the weather, climate, winds, and ocean currrents, which work together to make an environment where life can survive. The diagram shows some parts of this system. How does the energy from the Sun contribute to the production of winds on Earth?

• different areas absorb the heat differently, so warmer air rises and cooler air moves in to fill the gap

• the Sun's energy comes in radiating waves, which move the atmosphere around as they go through it

• gravity pulls the air down from the tops of the mountains to the valleys and oceans, and this pushes on the air below

• oceans heat and cool faster than the land, so they affect the air above them more than the land does

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6