Understanding Hurricanes: From Myth to Science

What term did the Japanese use to refer to the typhoons that thwarted Kublai Khan's invasions?

• Divine wind

• Storm of fate

• Ocean's wrath

• Wind of the gods

Which ancient culture identified the spiral shape of storms?

• Vikings

• Romans

• Maya

• Egyptians

What is the maximum width a hurricane can reach?

• 50 miles

• 100 miles

• 200 miles

• 300 miles

What effect causes hurricanes to spin?

• Gravitational pull

• Solar radiation

• Coriolis effect

• Magnetic fields

Why can't hurricanes form too close to the equator?

• Water is too cold

• Too much solar radiation

• Insufficient wind

• Lack of Coriolis effect

Why do hurricanes spin in opposite directions in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres?

• Due to the Earth's magnetic field

• Because of the Coriolis effect

• Due to differing ocean temperatures

• Because of the moon's gravitational pull

What happens to the air as it moves closer to the center of a hurricane?

• It cools and descends

• It heats up and rises

• It speeds up due to angular momentum

• It slows down and stabilizes

What is the primary source of energy for a hurricane?

• Oceanic heat

• Atmospheric pressure

• Wind speed

• Solar energy

How does water vapor contribute to a hurricane's power?

• By cooling the air

• By increasing wind speed

• By releasing stored heat

• By reducing atmospheric pressure

What analogy is used to explain the energy process of a hurricane?

• A steam engine

• A Carnot engine

• An electric generator

• A solar panel