IB ESS Topic 6 Test

The ozone layer protects life on earth from

• infrared wavelengths

• gamma radiation

• ultraviolet wavelengths 

• microwaves

Answer explanation

The ozone layer in the stratosphere intercepts ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun and prevents it from damaging living plant and animal cells on the earth's surface.

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS4-4

Which of the following is a primary pollutant produced from the combustion of fossils fuels by vehicles?

• Sulphuric acid and nitric acid (components of acid rain)

• Peroxyacyl nitrates (PANs)

• ozone

• Carbon dioxide

Answer explanation

Only carbon dioxide is a primary pollutant that is caused directly when burning fossil fuels. The others occur when primary pollutants chemically react with other molecules already present in the atmosphere.

The ozone layer is found in the 

• Thermosphere

• Stratosphere

• Mesosphere

• Troposphere

Answer explanation

The largest proportion of ozone is found in the stratosphere where ozone is stable. Although human activity does produce ozone at ground level, it is not stable and will quickly combine with other molecules to become more stable.

Which of the following statements regarding ozone is correct?

• In the upper atmosphere, ozone increases due to the increased use of CFCs.

• In the upper atmosphere, ozone decreases due to an increase of nitrous oxides being released from the combustion of fossil fuels.

• In the upper atmosphere, ozone increases because of global warming.

• In the upper atmosphere, ozone decreases due to the increased use of CFCs.

Answer explanation

CFCs are the main reason why the ozone layer in the upper atmosphere decreases.

The estimated percentage of oxygen gas (O2) in our atmosphere is

• 0.04%

• 78%

• 0.9%

• 21%

Answer explanation

Nitrogen is by far the largest component at 78%, followed by oxygen at 21%, argon at 0.9% and carbon dioxide at 0.04%

Which of the following would be considered a technocentric strategy to reduce atmospheric pollution? 

• Cycling and using public transit more instead of driving your own vehicle.answer

• Planting more trees within the city to absorb more carbon dioxide.

• Introducing a green tax to encourage people to drive less.

• Using catalytic converters to clean the exhaust of primary pollutants from car exhaust

Answer explanation

The only direct technocentric solution is upgrading the technology of vehicles so that they pollute less. Altering human behavior to cycle more, a green tax and planting more trees are more likely anthropocentric as these are human designed solutions.

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS3-4

NGSS.HS-LS2-7

Which of these gases (Oxygen, Nitrogen, Carbon dioxide, Argon) makes up the largest component of the atmosphere?

• Carbon dioxide

• Nitrogen 

• Argon

• Oxygen 

Answer explanation

Nitrogen is by far the largest component at 78%, followed by oxygen at 21%, argon at 0.9% and carbon dioxide at 0.04%

Which of the following gases does not contribute to the greenhouse effect?

• methane (CH₄)

• CFCs

• CO₂

• CO

Answer explanation

Of the gases listed, only Carbon Monoxide (CO) does NOT contribute to the greenhouse effect.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-5

These surfaces have high albedo

• ice, oceans, clouds, snow

• forest, grasslands, crops

• asphalt, concrete, stone

• cities, houses, buildings

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS2-2

NGSS.HS-ESS2-4

Low albedo means ......I..... absorption of energy, which may cause ......II...... feedback loops, destabilizing the atmospheric systems

• I) less

  II) positive

• I) more

  II) negative

• I) more

  II) positive

• I) less

  II) negative

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS2-4