Unit 4 & 5

The sun’s energy influences climate in different ways. For example, the latitudes at the equator receive more energy from the sun and therefore have warmer temperatures. How does the sun’s energy most directly influence precipitation in a climate?

• The sun’s energy drives the water cycle, which determines precipitation.

• The sun’s energy creates wind patterns that bring precipitation to different areas.

• The sun’s energy controls the amount of condensation and therefore precipitation.

• The sun’s energy starts the water cycle by causing percolation, which leads to precipitation.

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Kordell and his grandmother love to look for shapes in the clouds. Which sphere interaction results in the formation of clouds?

• The atmosphere absorbs water from the biosphere.

• The cryosphere melts and becomes part of the atmosphere.

• The hydrosphere evaporates and becomes part of the atmosphere.

• The geosphere releases water from the aquifer into the atmosphere.

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When conducting an experiment, a scientist writes down in detail every step of the procedure. Why is it important for the scientist to record this information?

• It will force the scientist to prove the hypothesis.

• It will allow the scientist to change more than one variable during each trial.

• It will keep other scientists from doing the exact same experiment in the future.

• It will allow other scientists to perform the same experiment to obtain similar results.

Ellie measures the outdoor temperature each day for a week at exactly 3:00 p.m. The temperatures she records are all between 25 °C and 30 °C. Ellie concludes that the climate of her area is tropical. What is the most important reason why her study and conclusion may not be correct?

• She recorded the temperature at only one time of day instead of more often.

• She made her conclusion based only on temperature and not also on precipitation.

• She made her conclusion based on only 1 week of data instead of over a long period of time.

• She did not calculate the humidity, air pressure, and wind conditions when she made her conclusion.

Jemma was asked to describe why the mesosphere was an important layer of the atmosphere. Jemma said that the mesosphere gives Earth the weather. Her classmate said that she was incorrect in her thinking. Why was Jemma's answer NOT correct?

• The troposphere is where the weather happens and the mesosphere is where meteors break apart.

• The thermosphere is where weather happens and the mesosphere is where meteors break apart.

• The troposphere is where weather happens and the mesosphere is where ozone is found.

• The thermosphere is where weather happens and the mesosphere is where ozone is found.

How does the chemical composition of the middle layers of the atmosphere work to protect life on Earth?

• The gases in the middle layers of the atmosphere absorb some of the harmful rays from the Sun.

• The middle layers of the atmosphere produce oxygen from carbon dioxide, keeping the gases most important for life in balance.

• The chemicals in the atmosphere create clouds that keep the harmful gases in the upper atmosphere away from the living organisms at the surface.

• The chemicals in the middle layers of the atmosphere repel oxygen and carbon dioxide so that the gases most important to living organisms are kept at the surface.

The rainforest is hot, humid, and has frequent rainfall. In what way does the interaction between the atmosphere and the hydrosphere assist in maintaining this type of climate?

• The Sun’s rays are trapped by the atmosphere, keeping temperatures and humidity high for most of the year.

• The hydrosphere sends water to the clouds through the process of transpiration, fueling the water cycle.

• The Sun supplies energy for the evaporation and transpiration of water, causing frequent rainfall and hot, humid temperatures.

• The rainforest is in close proximity to the equator, allowing the hydrosphere to release frequent rainfall, fueling the water cycle.

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Earth’s spheres interact in many ways. Which describes how the hydrosphere and atmosphere interact?

• A heavy snowfall adds mass to a glacier.

• Polluted air kills several animal species.

• Magma erupts and releases trapped gases.

• Ocean currents influence weather patterns.

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List the layers of the atmosphere in the correct order from the Earth's surface to the edge of the atmosphere.

• Exosphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, Troposphere, Thermosphere

• Thermosphere, Mesosphere, Stratosphere, Troposphere, Exosphere

• Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, Thermosphere, Exosphere

• Stratosphere, Mesosphere, Thermosphere, Exosphere, Troposphere

The area in which you live has a particular climate. It also has weather. What is the difference between climate and weather?

• Climate is determined by temperature and precipitation, whereas weather is determined only by humidity, air pressure, and wind conditions.

• Weather is determined by temperature and precipitation, whereas climate is determined only by humidity, air pressure, and wind conditions.

• Climate is the condition of Earth’s atmosphere at a particular time and place, whereas weather is the characteristic climate in an area over a long period of time.

• Weather is the condition of Earth’s atmosphere at a particular time and place, whereas climate is the characteristic weather in an area over a long period of time.