Weather Review at home

When it is summer in the northern hemisphere, it is winter in the southern hemisphere. Why would the northern and southern hemisphere have opposite seasons?

• the orbit of the Earth around the sun

• the tilt of the Earth on its axis

• the combination of the Earth's tilt and the orbit around the sun

• the hemispheres are able to take turns with the sun

Answer explanation

The northern and southern hemispheres experience opposite seasons due to the combination of the Earth's tilt and its orbit around the sun. When one hemisphere is tilted towards the sun, it experiences summer, while the other, tilted away, experiences winter.

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Which has the greatest effect on the temperature of a region?

• the amount of plants it has

• the amount of rainfall it gets

• the amount of humans it has

• the amount of sunlight it gets

Answer explanation

The amount of sunlight a region receives directly influences its temperature. More sunlight leads to higher temperatures, while less sunlight results in cooler conditions, making it the most significant factor compared to plants, rainfall, or humans.

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Natalie lives in Australia. What season does she most likely experience in December?

• winter

• spring

• summer

• fall

Answer explanation

In Australia, December falls during the summer season. Therefore, Natalie most likely experiences summer in December, making it the correct answer.

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Water that is puddled on a parking lot seems to disappear after a few hours. What is most likely causing the water to disappear?

• evaporation

• transpiration

• condensation

• precipitation

Answer explanation

The water puddled on the parking lot disappears primarily due to evaporation, which is the process where liquid water turns into vapor and enters the atmosphere. This is the most likely cause of the observed disappearance.

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How do plants contribute to the water cycle?

• Plants cool the air and create condensation

• Plants warm the air and create precipitation

• Plants give off water vapor through transpiration

• Plants give off water in the form of runoff

Answer explanation

Plants contribute to the water cycle by giving off water vapor through transpiration. This process releases moisture into the atmosphere, which can lead to cloud formation and precipitation, playing a crucial role in the cycle.

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Cold air molecules sink and cause a high pressure system... but why do they sink?

• The molecules sink away from the heat of the sun.

• The molecules are closer together and heavier than the surrounding air.

• The molecules are more spread apart and dense than the surrounding air

• The molecules are blown toward the land by wind.

Answer explanation

Cold air molecules sink because they are closer together and heavier than the surrounding air. This increased density causes them to descend, leading to the formation of a high pressure system.

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What process is missing from the following sequence? Evaporation---> ? ----> Precipitation---> Runoff

• pressure

• moisture

• transpirtation

• condensation

Answer explanation

The missing process is condensation, which occurs after evaporation. Water vapor cools and condenses into droplets, leading to precipitation, followed by runoff.

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

What causes water to evaporate and change to water vapor?

• condensing

• cooling

• heating

• rising

Answer explanation

Water evaporates and changes to water vapor primarily due to heating. When water is heated, its molecules gain energy, allowing them to escape into the air as vapor. Other options like cooling and condensing do not facilitate evaporation.

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Which has the greatest effect on wind speed?

• precipitation

• cloud cover

• wind direction

• air pressure

Answer explanation

Air pressure has the greatest effect on wind speed because differences in air pressure create wind. Higher pressure areas push air towards lower pressure areas, resulting in increased wind speed.

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Which statement best explains how wind is formed?

• Air is warmed by the sun and the air flow increases as a result of the warming

• Pressure decreases as a result of heat from the sun causing air to flow freely

• Unequal heating of the land causes air to flow from areas of high pressure to low pressure

Answer explanation

Wind is formed due to unequal heating of the land, which creates areas of high and low pressure. Air flows from high-pressure areas to low-pressure areas, resulting in wind.

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