Earth Science Chapter 3 Test Exam Review

Imagine you are at a location where the magnetic declination is 0˚. Describe your position in relation to magnetic north and true north.

You would be at a location that is linear to magnetic north and true north.

As you move from point A to point B in the Northern Hemisphere, the length of a degree of longitude progressively decreases. In which direction are you moving? Explain.

You would be moving north, because lines of longitude become closer and eventually meet in the North Pole. In the Northern Hemisphere, the distance between lines of longitude decreases as you move north.

The latitude of the equator is:

0˚

The circumference of the earth is approximately:

40,000 km

What is wrong with the following location: 135˚ N, 185˚ E?

Degrees of latitude (N/S) can only range from 0˚-90˚, and degrees of longitude (E/W) can only range from 0˚-180˚.

The prime meridian passes through which of the following country: United States, England, Russia, Brazil

England

T/F Each degree of latitude is equal to 60 seconds of latitude

False

T/F Mean sea level is the average level of high tide

False

T/F Meridians are circles around the earth parallel to the equator

False

T/F Most maps are drawn with south at the top

False

T/F On a gnomonic projection, lines of longitude are parallel

False

T/F On a map, relief is the difference in elevation between one contour line and the next

False

T/F On a topographic map, elevation is measured as the distance above or below mean sea level

False

T/F The Distance covered by a degree of latitude depends upon where the degree is measured.

False

T/F The globe is a type of map projection

False

T/F Topographic maps how only natural features of an area

False

T/F Topographic maps of plains and other relatively flat areas have large contour intervals.

False

T/F True north is another name for the geomagnetic North Pole

False

T/F The distance covered by a degree of longitude is the same distance covered by a degree of latitude.

Fasle

Why are gnomonic projections useful to navigators in plotting air travel routes?

Gnomonic projections are useful to navigators in air travel because they clearly show great circle routes, which are the shortest distances between two points on earth.

One expedition is preparing to explore the South Pole; another is preparing to explore the equator. To which expedition would you recommend the Mercator projection? Explain

You would use a Mercator projection for the equator exploration, not the South Pole expedition. This is due to the fact that a Mercator projection displays the equator very precisely, while it displays areas near the poles with a lot of distortion

How can a magnetic compass be used to find geographic north?

When you use a compass, it points towards geomagnetic north, You find your degree of magnetic declination relative to your location, and set it on your compass. The compass will then point towards geographic north.

On a topographic map, rapid increases in elevation are represented by __________ contour lines:

closely-spaced

on a topographic map, the difference in elevation between one contour line and the next:

contour interval

Angle between the direction the compass needle points and direction of true north

declination

Only line of latitude that is a great circle

equator

Contour intervals are most likely smallest on maps of ___ areas

flat

another name for True north

geographic

term for North Pole where Santa lives

geographic

The earth's axis of rotation intersects the earth's surface at the:

geographic poles

Great circles are shown as straight lines on a ___ map projection

gnomonic

The shortest distance between any two points on the globe can be found by drawing a:

great circle

term for any circle that divides the earth into equal halves is called

great circle

A contour liens that is bold and labeled is called an:

index contour

On a map, a list of symbols and their meanings is called a:

legend

A city's location with respect to the prime meridian is given by a city's:

longitude

To find the actual distance between 2 points on the earth, compare the distance and measurements with the:

map scale

Circular lines that run perpendicular to the equator are called

meridians

The vertical lines on a glove represent:

meridians

One degree of latitude consists of 60 equal parts called

minutes

On a Mercator projection, the greatest distortion is produced at the:

poles

Which type of map is produced by fitting together a series of map projections:

polyconic

maps made by combining several conic projections are called

polyconic

Lien of longitude that passes through Greenwich England

prime meridian

Line of longitude selected to be 0˚ is called the

prime meridian

The difference in elevation between the higher and lowest parts of a area being mapped is called the:

relief

List six things found on a map legend.

scale, symbol for buildings, symbol for swamps, a symbol for railroads, symbols denoting different highways/roads, a color system for population density

A sphere has no ___, ___, or ___ to use as reference points

sides, top, bottom

On topographic maps, closely spaced contour lines indicate:

steep slopes

What is the location of a point that is 85˚ south of the equator and 350˚ north of the equator?

85˚ S, 10˚ W

The North Pole has a latitude of:

90˚

A plane leaves Greenwich, England, flying west. After flying 3/4 around the earth, the plane's longitude would be:

90˚ East

What is shown as straight lines on a Mercator projection?

Compass directions

Explain why a degree of longitude at the equator is not equal the the same distance as a degree of Longitude at 45˚ N latitude.

Lines of longitude are curved so that they can fit earth's curved surface, and they meet at the poles. Distances between meridians are shorter near the poles, and longer at the equator.

Meridians and parallels are shown as perpendicular lines on a ___ projection

Mercator

You are using a topographic map to plan a hike. Along path A, the contour lines are widely spaced. Along path B, the contour lines are almost touching. Which path would probably be easier and safer? Why?

Path A would be easier and safer than path B, because spaced out contour liens display a gradual change in elevation, while close contour lines represent a very steep area.

You examine a topographic map on which the contour interval is 100m. In general, what type of terrain is shown on the map?

The terrain would be very hilly or mountainous. There would be large variations in elevation across the map, and the relief would be very large.

T/F A meridian is an imaginary semicircle that runs from pole to pole

True

T/F Directions on a map should be determined relative to the meridians and parallels

True

T/F Eastern and western boundaries of USGS maps are indicated by meridians of longitude.

True

T/F Index contours are contour lines that are printed bolder in order to make map readings easier.

True

T/F Landsat satellites are used by cartographers

True

T/F On a Mercator projection, only the areas near 0˚ latitude are shown with relative accuracy

True

T/F On a polyconic projection, the relative size and shape of small areas are nearly the same as those on a globe.

True

T/F On a topographic map, elevation is represented by contour lines

True

T/F On topographic maps, contour lines connect points having the same elevation

True

T/F The distance represented by a degree of longitude is greatest at the equator

True

T/F The earth's axis of rotation intersects the earth's surface at the geographic poles

True

T/F The latitude of the equator is 0˚

True

In the northern hemisphere magnetic declination is measured in degrees east or west of:

True north

What does U.S.G.S. stand for?

United States Geological Survey

On a topographic maps, green areas indicate:

woodlands