Quiz on Forces and Balances in the Atmosphere

Which force is responsible for the apparent deflection of moving objects when viewed in a rotating reference frame?

• Centrifugal force

• Coriolis force

• Inertial currents

• Rossby number

What term describes the balance between pressure gradient force and Coriolis force in the atmosphere?

• Inertial currents

• Geostrophic balance

• Centrifugal force

• Rossby number

Which concept is used to describe the ratio of inertial force to Coriolis force?

• Rossby number

• Geostrophic balance

• Centrifugal force

• Inertial currents

What is the continuity equation for both non-rotating and rotating planets?

• ∇ · v = 0

• ∇ · v = 1

• ∇ · v = 2

• ∇ · v = -1

Which additional term appears in the zonal momentum equation for a rotating planet?

• + fu

• - fv

• + fv

• - fu

What is the vertical momentum equation for both non-rotating and rotating planets?

• ∂p/∂z = ρg

• ∂p/∂z = -ρg

• ∂p/∂z = 0

• ∂p/∂z = 1

What effect is considered in the momentum equations for a rotating planet?

• Gravitational effect

• Magnetic effect

• Coriolis effect

• Thermal effect

What is the unit of angular speed when measuring how fast something is rotating?

• Meters per second

• Radians per second

• Degrees per hour

• Kilometers per hour

How many radians are equivalent to 360 degrees?

• π radians

• 2π radians

• 4π radians

• π/2 radians

What is the approximate angular speed of the Earth in radians per second?

• 7.27 × 10⁻⁵ s⁻¹

• 1.00 × 10⁻⁵ s⁻¹

• 5.00 × 10⁻⁵ s⁻¹

• 9.81 × 10⁻⁵ s⁻¹

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-4