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WorksheetsEnergy in the Atmosphere and Ocean
Total questions: 20
Worksheet time: 20mins
A student puts water in a long glass tank to make a model of ocean currents. He heats the left side of the tank and cools the right side. This heating and cooling produces a current of water in the tank. Which diagram correctly shows the flow of the water?
W
X
Y
Z
Many types of living cells, including human skin cells, can be damaged or killed if exposed to ultraviolet light from the Sun. How does the Earth's atmosphere protect organisms on the surface from exposure to ultraviolet light?
A. Gaseous water reflects most ultraviolet light from the Sun back into space.
B. Ozone in the atmosphere absorbs most ultraviolet light from the Sun.
C. Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere absorbs most infrared light from the Sun.
D. Oxygen in the atmosphere scatters most ultraviolet light from the Sun.
In polar areas, water on the ocean's surface can freeze. As the water turns into ice, salts are squeezed out of the ice and enter the liquid water below the ice layer.
What is the result of this?
A. The water's density increases, and the water sinks.
B. The liquid water changes to carbon dioxide.
C. The temperature of the water below the ice increases.
D. The mass of the water below the ice increases.
The graph below shows how temperature changes with altitude (height) in the Earth's atmosphere.
In the mesosphere and ____________ as altitudes increase, temperatures _________________
troposphere, increase
troposphere, decrease
stratosphere, increase
stratosphere, decrease
During the day, the temperature of the air on an island is much higher than the temperature of the air above the surrounding water. Which statement best explains how the air pressure on the island compares with the air pressure over the water?
A. The air pressure above the water will be higher because of water pressure.
B. The air pressure on the island will be higher because the air has more energy.
C. The air pressure on the island will be lower because warm air expands.
D. The air pressure above the water will be lower because cold air is more dense.
Which graph best represents the relationship between pressure and altitude (height) in the Earth's atmosphere?
The image models how air can move by convection
at the Earth's equator.
Which statement best describes this process?
A. Convection currents are driven by the orbit of Earth around the Sun.
B. Differences in gravity at various latitudes causes the rising and sinking of air.
C. Convection currents on Earth are driven by the gravitational pull of the Sun.
D. Differences in air density cause the rising and sinking of air.
When you feel wind, you are feeling the movement of Earth's atmosphere. Imagine that the pocket of atmosphere above your town is heated by the Sun.
Which of the following best describes the movement that will take place in that pocket of atmosphere?
A. There will be no movement; heated air does not have the energy move.
B. The heated air will sink down to the surface.
C. The heated air will vibrate in place, causing a swirling wind.
D. The heated air will rise, and cooler air will move into its place.
Marie drew a diagram to describe atmospheric convection.
What causes atmospheric convection?
A. The Sun's energy cools the ground, cooling air at the surface and causing the air to sink.
B. Energy from deep in the Earth cools the ground, cooling air at the surface and causing the air to sink.
C. The Sun's energy heats the ground, heating air at the surface and causing the air to rise.
D. Energy from deep in the Earth heats the ground, heating air at the surface and causing the air to rise.
Above is an image that is displaying the temperature and altitude of Earth's atmospheric layers.
What is the layer of Earth's atmosphere that has the coldest temperature range?
A. troposphere
B. mesosphere
C. stratosphere
D. exosphere
B. mesosphere
C. stratosphere
D. exosphere
The Earth's oceans are generally warmer near the equator and cooler near the poles. Currents in the water near the surface circulate the water. Some of these currents are shown in the image below. Warm currents are
shown in red. Cool currents are shown in blue.
Which of the following best describes what the pictured currents do?
A. carry warm water away from the equator
B. carry warm water toward the equator
C. carry cool water toward the poles
D. carry warm water away from the poles
Earth's atmosphere is composed of
A. iron, oxygen, and silicon.
B. water, liquid oxygen, and trace amounts of other liquids.
C. carbon dioxide, ozone, and magnesium.
D. nitrogen, oxygen, and trace amounts of other gases.
When sunlight strikes the ground it warms the ground and the air near it. The warm air near the ground then rises as it expands. What does this process typically result in on the ground?
A. Floodwater rushes in to cool the hot surface.
B. Clouds push the warm air back to the ground.
C. Cool air rushes in to replace the rising warm air.
D. Freezing conditions near the ground generate a high pressure system.
Some areas of the Earth receive more solar radiation than others. Which of the following results from the Sun's uneven heating of the Earth?
Select all the correct answers.
ocean currents
mountain height
climate
weather
The majority of meteoroids entering the Earth's atmosphere burn up in one particular layer. This layer is characterized by temperatures that decrease as altitudes increases. The very highest part of this layer is the coldest part of the atmosphere and, indeed, the coldest part of the entire planet.
Which layer of the Earth's atmosphere is described above?
Troposphere
Stratosphere
Mesosphere
Thermosphere
Due to the Earth's shape and orientation, areas near the Equator receive the greatest amount of energy from the Sun.
Ocean currents ________________
A. keep this energy concentrated in one region of the globe.
B. move only toward the Equator as a result.
C. help to distribute this energy by warming other regions of the globe.
D. move only away from the Equator as a result.
The image below shows part of an ocean current in the Pacific Ocean. The blue line represents the motion of deep, cool water. The red line represents the motion of warm surface water.
What most likely causes the current to behave as
shown in the image?
A. When the deep water is cooled, it loses energy and becomes denser.
B. When the surface water is heated by the Sun, it becomes denser.
C. When the cold water evaporates, less dense water rises to take its place.
D. When the water is heated, it becomes less dense and rises.
The graph shows how air pressure changes with altitude in the Earth's atmosphere. Examine the graph, and then answer the question that follows.
In the troposphere, _____________
A. air pressure stays the same as altitude increases.
B. air pressure increases as altitude increases.
C. air pressure alternately increases and decreases as altitude increases.
D. air pressure decreases as altitude increases.
The method of heat transfer that plays a central role in transferring heat energy within the atmosphere and the ocean is
A. convection.
B. radiation.
C. reflection.
D. conduction.
Convection currents, resulting from uneven heating of the Earth's surface, cause _______ to form.
A. fossils
B. mountains
C. volcanoes
D. wind
