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Earth Science Midterm

Total questions: 44

Worksheet time: 47mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

What is the process in which stars produce energy?

a)

Stars fuse heavy elements into lighter elements

b)

Stars burn carbon dioxide and heavier elements

c)

Stars fuse light elements into heavier elements

2.

At which lettered position of Earth does New York State experience the first day of Summer?

a)

A

b)

C

c)

B

d)

D

3.

What season is it in the Northern Hemisphere at location A?

a)

Summer

b)

Winter

c)

Spring

d)

Fall

4.

Which motion causes am observer to see different constellations at midnight on July 7th compared to midnight on January 3rd?

a)

rotation of Earth on its axis

b)

revolution of the constellations in their orbits

c)

rotation of the stars in their constellations

d)

revolution of Earth in its orbit

5.

According to the diagram, what moon phase is it at position 6?

a)

Waxing gibbous

b)

Third quarter

c)

New Moon

d)

Waning gibbous

6.

ALL ocean tides show a pattern that is

a)

noncyclic and unpredictable

b)

cyclic and unpredictable

c)

noncyclic and predictable

d)

cyclic and predictable

7.

Based on the graph, the first low tide on December 26th occurred at approximately

a)

11 am

b)

6 pm

c)

11 pm

d)

6 am

8.

How many days are required for the Moon to complete a cycle of phases from a new Moon position to the next new Moon?

a)

2.2 d

b)

27.3 d

c)

29.5 d

d)

365.25 d

9.

When a solar eclipse is viewed from Earth, the Moon must be located at orbital position

a)

5

b)

7

c)

3

d)

1

10.

Which statement best explains why the same side of the Moon is viewed from Earth as the Moon goes through its phases?

a)

The Moon's period of rotation equals the Moon's period of revolution around the Sun

b)

The Moon's period of rotation equals the Earth's period of revolution around the Sun

c)

The Moon's period of rotation equals the Earth's period of rotation

d)

The Moon does not rotate as it revolves around Earth

11.

Which letter best represents the direction of movement of these fronts in relation to the low-pressure center? (which letter will the front pass over first?

a)

A

b)

B

c)

C

12.

The air pressure at the ocean surface a few miles from the shore is most likely

a)

1013 mb

b)

1005 mb

c)

1017 mb

d)

994 mb

13.

Surface winds on Earth are primarily caused by differences in

a)

ocean wave heights during the tidal cycle

b)

rotational speeds of earth's surface at various latitudes

c)

air density due to unequal heating of Earth's surface

d)

distances from the Sun during the year

14.

The strongest winds are closest to location

a)

Kansas City

b)

Austin

c)

Denver

d)

Boise

15.

An observer measured the air temperature and the dew-point and found the difference between them to be 12 degrees Celsius. One hour later, the differences between the air temperature and the dew-point was found to be 4 degrees Celsius. Which statement best describes the changes that were occurring?

a)

The relative humidity was decreasing and the chance of precipitation was increasing

b)

The relative humidity was increasing and the chance of precipitation was increasing

c)

The relative humidity was increasing and the chance of precipitation was decreasing

d)

The relative humidity was decreasing and the chance of precipitation was decreasing

16.

At what time was the chance of precipitation the greatest?

a)

1 am

b)

5 am

c)

3 am

d)

7 am

17.

A strong west wind steadily blew over Lake Ontario picking up moisture. As the moist air flowed over the Tug Hill Plateau, the plateau received a 36-inch snowfall. This snow fell from clouds that formed when rising air was

a)

warmed by expansion, causing water vapor to evaporate

b)

cooled by expansion, causing water vapor to condense

c)

cooled by compression, causing water vapor to condense

d)

warmed by compression, causing water vapor to evaporate

18.

When clouds form, heat energy is released into the atmosphere by

a)

expanding air

b)

condensation nuclei

c)

falling precipitation

d)

condensing water vapor

19.

Winds move from regions of

a)

high precipitation towards regions of low precipitation

b)

high humidity toward regions of low humidity

c)

high temperature toward regions of low temperature

d)

high pressure toward regions of low pressure

20.

A container of water is placed in an open outdoor area so that the evaporation rate can be observed. The water will most likely evaporate fastest when the weather is

a)

warm, humid and calm

b)

cool, dry and windy

c)

warm, dry and windy

d)

cool, humid and windy

21.

Which type of air mass most likely has high humidity and high temperature?

a)

mT

b)

cP

c)

cT

d)

mP

22.

What was the probable air pressure, in millibars at station D?

a)

1015.0

b)

1017.0

c)

1021.0

d)

1036.0

23.

A student using a sling psychrometer measured a wet-bulb temperature of 10 degrees Celsius and a dry-bulb temperature of 16 degrees Celsius. What was the dewpoint?

a)

-10

b)

45

c)

6

d)

4

24.

This apparent path of the Sun through the sky is caused by

a)

Earth's revolution around the Sun

b)

Earth's rotation on its axis

c)

the Sun's revolution around Earth

d)

the Sun's rotation on its axis

25.

The model below shows the apparent path of the Sun as seen by an observer in New York State on the first day of one of the four seasons.

This apparent path of the Sun was observed on the first day of

a)

Spring

b)

Summer

c)

Fall

d)

Winter

26.

In New York, which day has the shortest duration of insolation?

a)

March 21

b)

June 21

c)

June 21

d)

December 21

27.
State the day represented by Sun's Path Z.
a)
September 23
b)
December 21
c)
March 20
d)
June 21
28.

The Big Bang is said to have occurred

a)

4.6 billion years ago

b)

13.8 million years ago

c)

100 thousand years ago

d)

13.8 billion years ago

29.

Stars that show red shift are. . .

a)

moving away from Earth

b)

moving toward Earth

c)

remaining stationary

30.

In what star stage is the Sun currently in?

a)

Main Sequence

b)

Supergiant

c)

Giant

d)

Dwarf

31.

Which statement is true about Jovian planets?

a)

Jovian planets have longer periods of rotation than Terrestrial planets do

b)

Jovian planets are made mostly of gas and have a high density

c)

Jovian planets have shorter periods of revolution than Terrestrial planets do

d)

Jovian planets are larger in diameter but small in density than Terrestrial planets are

32.

Which phase of the Moon will be observed in New York State when the Moon is at position 8?

a)
b)
c)
d)
33.

A blue shift of the light from a star indicates that the star

a)

will soon become a main sequence star

b)

will soon become a dwarf star

c)

is moving closer to Earth

d)

is moving further away from Earth

34.

According to the Earth Science Reference Tables, what is the approximate dewpoint temperature if the dry-bulb temperature is 18 C and the wet-bulb temperature is 11 C?

(Click on the image to enlarge)

a)

4 C

b)

-10 C

c)

7 C

d)

1 C

35.

The weather station model shown to the left indicated that winds are coming from the...

a)

southeast at 10 knots

b)

northwest at 10 knots

c)

southeast at 20 knots

d)

northwest at 20 knots

36.

Which station model shows an air temperature of 75°F and a barometric pressure of 996.3 mb?

a)
b)
c)
d)
37.

What is the relative humidity if the dry-bulb temperature is 16°C and the wet-bulb temperature is 10°C?

a)

45%

b)

33%

c)

14%

d)

4%

38.

Which weather station model indicates the greatest probability of precipitation?

a)
b)
c)
d)
39.

Base your answer to the following question on the graph to the left. The graph shows air temperature and relative humidity at a single location during a 24-hour period.

What was the approximate change in relative humidity from 12 noon to 4 p.m.?

a)

10%

b)

15%

c)

20%

d)

30%

40.

Base your answer to the question on the weather map to your left and on your knowledge of Earth science. The map of a portion of eastern North America shows a high-pressure center (H) and a low-pressure center (L), frontal boundaries, and present weather conditions.

The general surface wind circulation associated with the high-pressure center (H) is most likely...

a)

clockwise and outward

b)

clockwise and inward

c)

counterclockwise and outward

d)

counterclockwise and inward

41.

The weather map to the left shows a portion of an air-pressure field at Earth's surface. Isobars show air pressure in millibars.

At which location is windspeed greatest?

a)

A

b)

B

c)

C

d)

D

42.

What is the approximate latitude and longitude of Slide Mt, NY? Use your Earth Science reference table.

a)

44 N, 80 W

b)

42 N, 75 W

c)

42 N, 79 W

d)

42 W, 75 N

43.

Looking at Polaris we find the altitude (degrees difference between horizon and Polaris) to be 49 degrees. What latitude are we at?

a)

49 S

b)

49 N

c)

41 N

d)

41 S

44.

What city in NY would you see Polaris at 44 degrees above the horizon?

a)

Watertown

b)

New York City

c)

Elmira

d)

Rochester