ESSC 102-Exam 3
Because of the tremendous pressure gradient associated with a strong tornado, maximum winds approach ________ miles per hour. a. 1000 b. 600 c. 300 d. 100
300
What category of the scale of hurricane intensity is the strongest? a. 10 b. 5 c. 20 d. 1 e. 3
5
A hurricane must have sustained wind speeds of at least: a. 84 miles per hour. b. 74 miles per hour. c. 64 miles per hour. d. 94 miles per hour.
74 miles per hour
Hurricanes develop most often in the late summer when ocean waters have reached what temperature? a. 100 degrees F b. 70 degrees F c. 60 degrees F d. 80 degrees F e. 50 degrees F
80 degrees F
The United States deadliest hurricane happened in 1900 in Galveston, Texas. Approximately how many deaths did the hurricane cause? a. 4000 b. 1000 c. 2000 d. 8000
8000
The planets never travel in a straight line as they orbit the Sun. According to Newton's second law of motion, this must mean that: a. the planets are always accelerating. b. the planets will eventually fall into the Sun. c. the planets have angular momentum. d. a force is acting on the planets.
A force is acting on the planets
Kepler's second law, which states that as a planet moves around its orbit it sweeps out equal areas in equal times, means that: a. planets that are farther from the Sun move at slower average speeds than nearer planets. b. the period of a planet does not depend on its mass. c. a planet's period does not depend on the eccentricity of its orbit. d. a planet travels faster when it is nearer to the Sun and slower when it is farther from the Sun. e. planets have circular orbits.
A planet travels faster when it is nearer to the Sun and slower when it is farther from the Sun
Why do most tornadoes in the central U.S. occur during the spring months? a. Surface air is most humid. b. Divergence of air aloft is greatest. c. Solar energy is a maximum. d. Air-mass contrasts are greatest. e. Upper-air temperatures are warmest.
Air-mass contrasts are greatest
Why do we have seasons on Earth? a. As Earth goes around the Sun and Earth's axis remains pointed toward Polaris, the Northern and Southern hemispheres alternately receive more and less direct sunlight. b. Earth's distance from the Sun varies, so that it is summer when we are closer to the Sun and winter when we are farther from the Sun. c. Seasons are caused by the influence of the planet Jupiter on our orbit. d. The tilt of Earth's axis constantly changes between 0 and 23 1/2°, giving us summer when Earth is tilted more and winter when it is straight up.
As Earth goes around the Sun and Earth's axis remains pointed toward Polaris, the Northern and Southern hemispheres alternately receive more and less direct sunlight
Why are thunderstorms most likely to occur in the afternoon and early evening? a. It takes all day for them to mature. b. Upper-level winds are too fast at night and in morning. c. Lower atmosphere is too unstable in the morning. d. Water-vapor contents are too low at night. e. Atmosphere is most unstable at that time.
Atmosphere is most unstable at that time
During which of the time spans listed below should hurricane formation in the North Atlantic be at a peak? a. January-February b. April-May c. November-December d. August-September
August-September
Why do we see essentially the same face of the Moon at all times? a. because the Moon has a nearly circular orbit around Earth b. because the Moon does not rotate c. because the Sun illuminates only one half at a time d. because the other face points toward us only at new Moon, when we can't see the Moon e. because the Moon's rotational and orbital periods are equal
Because the Moon's rotational and orbital periods are equal
Why are astronauts weightless in the Space Station? a. because there is no gravity in space b. because the Space Station is moving at constant velocity c. because the Space Station is traveling so fast d. because the Space Station is constantly in free-fall around Earth
Because the Space Station is constantly in free-fall around Earth
Which of the following statements is true? a. The Northern Hemisphere receives the most direct sunlight on the summer solstice. b. Both the Northern and Southern hemispheres receive the same amount of sunlight on the solstices. c. Both A and C are true. d. Both the Northern and Southern hemispheres receive the same amount of sunlight on the equinoxes. e. The Southern Hemisphere receives the most direct sunlight on the summer solstice.
Both A and C are true
Tornadoes and midlatitude cyclones are similar in that: a. both are areas of low pressure. b. both form in the trade-wind belt. c. both are most common and well-developed in the winter season. d. both have conspicuous surface fronts.
Both are areas of low pressure
When a hurricane moves onto land, it declines in intensity. Which of the factors listed below contribute to this loss of punch? a. heating from below by the land surface b. lack of warm, moist air c. both friction and the lack of warm, moist air d. friction
Both friction and the lack of warm, moist air
Which type of lightning is least likely? a. cloud-to-cloud b. within the same cloud c. cloud-to-Earth
Cloud-to-Earth
Why do surface wind speeds increase toward the center of a hurricane? a. conservation of angular momentum b. stronger Coriolis effect c. warmer water d. reduced friction
Conservation of angular momentum
Since detection and tracking of hurricanes is now quite accurate, why does damage from these storms continue to increase? a. hurricane intensity is greater b. continued development of coastal areas c. poor forecasts of landfall area d. changes in tidal patterns
Continued development of coastal areas
The controversial book of this famous person, published in 1543 (the year of his death), suggested that Earth and other planets orbit the Sun. a. Tycho Brahe b. Copernicus c. Kepler d. Ptolemy e. Galileo
Copernicus
This type of cloud brings thunderstorms. a. stratocumulus b. cumulus c. altostratus d. nimbostratus e. cumulonimbus
Cumulonimbus
Thunderstorms can be associated with these weather activities: a. cyclones, hurricanes, and tornadoes. b. tornadoes. c. cyclones. d. hurricanes.
Cyclones, hurricanes, and tornadoes
Which of the following represents a case in which you are not accelerating? a. going from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 10 seconds b. driving 60 miles per hour around a curve c. slamming on the brakes to come to a stop at a stop sign d. driving in a straight line at 60 miles per hour
Driving in a straight line at 60 miles per hour
During the period each year when we see Mars undergoing apparent retrograde motion in our sky, what is really going on in space? a. Earth and Mars are on opposite sides of the Sun. b. Mars is moving around the Sun in the opposite direction from which Earth is moving around the Sun. c. Earth and Mars are getting closer together. d. Earth is catching up with and passing by Mars in their respective orbits.
Earth is catching up with and passing by Mars in their respective orbits
For most of history, the lack of observable stellar parallax was interpreted to mean that: a. Earth is stationary at the center of the universe. b. stars were too far away for parallax to be measured with available technology. c. stars must all lie at the same distance from Earth, on the celestial sphere. d. Galileo's theories of the universe were essentially correct.
Earth is stationary at the center of the universe
Radiative energy is: a. heat energy. b. energy carried by light. c. energy from nuclear power plants. d. energy of motion.
Energy carried by light
The very center of the storm is called the: a. eye ring. b. eye wall. c. eye. d. core.
Eye
The doughnut-shaped wall of intense convective activity surrounding the center of the storm is called the: a. eye ring. b. core. c. eye wall. d. eye.
Eye wall
Columbus was the first person to discover that Earth is round. Select one: True False
False
Earth is always precisely 1 AU from the Sun. Select one: True False
False
Our solar system is located in the center of the Milky Way Galaxy. Select one: True False
False
The greatest number of deaths associated with thunderstorms result from: a. tornadoes. b. lightning. c. hail. d. flash flooding.
Flash flooding
Which of the following is not a phase of the Moon? a. new Moon b. full Moon c. third-quarter Moon d. half Moon e. first-quarter Moon
Half Moon
When a spinning ice skater pulls in his arms, he spins faster because: a. there exists an unbalanced reaction force. b. there is less friction with the ice. c. his angular momentum must be conserved, so reducing his radius must increase his speed of rotation. d. there is less friction with the air.
His angular momentum must be conserved, so reducing his radius must increase his speed of rotation
Which "famous" hurricane was the costliest in United States history? a. Hurricane Diane b. Hurricane Floyd c. Hurricane Katrina d. Hurricane Hugo
Hurricane Katrina
One problem with issuing a hurricane warning is: a. hurricane forecasts require large areas that will be unaffected to be included in the warning. b. few people pay attention to warnings. c. no standardized system for issuing warnings exists on a federal level in the United States. d. it is difficult to issue warnings with enough lead time for people to evacuate.
Hurricane forecasts require large areas that will be unaffected to be included in the warning
An announcement aimed at specific coastal areas that a hurricane poses a possible threat generally within 36 hours is called a: a. hurricane warning. b. hurricane watch. c. tornado watch. d. tornado warning.
Hurricane watch
The eye of a hurricane: a. has the most intense rainfall. b. is a figment of man's imagination. c. is the portion with the highest wind speeds. d. is warmer than the rest of the storm.
Is warmer than the rest of the storm
What makes the North Star, Polaris, special? a. It appears very near the north celestial pole. b. It is the star directly on your northern horizon. c. It is the star straight overhead. d. It is the brightest star in the sky. e. It can be used to determine your longitude on Earth.
It appears very near the north celestial pole
Which of the following statements about the ecliptic plane is not true? a. It is the plane of the Moon's orbit around Earth. b. It is the plane of Earth's orbit around the Sun. c. During a solar eclipse, the Moon lies in the ecliptic plane. d. The nodes of the Moon's orbit lie in the ecliptic plane. e. During a lunar eclipse, the Moon lies in the ecliptic plane.
It is the plane of the Moon's orbit around Earth
Which statement must be true in order for a rocket to travel from Earth to another planet? a. It must carry a lot of extra fuel. b. It must have very large engines. c. It must attain escape velocity from Earth. d. It must be launched from space, rather than from the ground.
It must attain escape velocity from Earth
Which of the following statements about the celestial equator is true at all latitudes? a. It lies along the band of light we call the Milky Way. b. It cuts the dome of your sky exactly in half. c. It extends from your horizon due east, through your zenith, to your horizon due west. d. It extends from your horizon due north, through your zenith, to your horizon due south. e. It represents an extension of Earth's equator onto the celestial sphere.
It represents an extension of Earth's equator onto the celestial sphere
He discovered that the orbits of planets are ellipses. a. Copernicus b. Tycho Brahe c. Ptolemy d. Kepler e. Galileo
Kepler
The energy attributed to an object by virtue of its motion is known as: a. potential energy. b. kinetic energy. c. radiative energy. d. mass-energy.
Kinetic energy
Why is strong heating of the ground by the Sun associated with thunderstorms? a. increases the wind speed b. reduces the dew point c. leads to greater instability d. reduces the relative humidity e. increases the pressure gradient
Leads to greater instability
The terms leader, flash, and stroke are used when describing: a. a tornado. b. the passage of a hurricane. c. squall line formation. d. lightning. e. the stages of a thunderstorm.
Lighting
Which of the following is likely during the mature stage of a thunderstorm? a. no precipitation b. light winds c. light precipitation d. lightning
Lightning
Momentum is defined as: a. mass times acceleration. b. mass times speed. c. force times velocity. d. mass times velocity.
Mass times velocity
A GPS dropwindsonde is used for: a. forecasting precipitation associated with the hurricane's eyewall. b. measuring wind directions in the outflow of a hurricane. c. measuring wind speeds throughout every level of a hurricane. d. locating and measuring the diameter of the hurricane's eye at the surface.
Measuring wind speeds throughout every level of a hurricane
What is the single greatest advancement in tools used for observing tropical cyclones? a. radar b. data buoys c. meteorological satellites d. aircraft reconnaissance
Meteorological satellites
At what time of day is an air-mass thunderstorm more likely to develop? a. midafternoon b. midmorning c. pre-dawn d. midnight
Midafternoon
A net force acting on an object will always cause a change in the object's: a. direction. b. speed. c. momentum. d. mass.
Momentum
Compared to the North Atlantic, hurricanes form in the South Atlantic: a. with about the same frequency and intensity. b. much less frequently. c. more more frequently. d. with about the same frequency, but with much less intensity.
Much less frequently
Newton showed that Kepler's laws are: a. natural consequences of the law of universal gravitation. b. actually only three of seven distinct laws of planetary motion. c. the key to proving that Earth orbits our Sun. d. seriously in error.
Natural consequences of the law of universal gravitation
Tornadoes most often move toward what direction? a. northwest b. southwest c. northeast d. west e. southeast
Northeast
"Heat lightning": a. is also called "ball lightning." b. is brighter than ordinary lightning. c. is actually a display of the northern lights. d. occurs more than 20 kilometers from the person observing it.
Occurs more than 20 kilometers from the person observing it
Conventional radar measures: a. raindrop and snowflake motion. b. raindrop motion. c. cloud droplet numbers. d. rainfall intensity. e. raindrop size.
Rainfall intensity
The ________ scale is used to establish categories of hurricane intensity. a. Johnson-Hildebrandt b. Fujita c. Saffir-Simpson d. Stormfury
Saffir-Simpson
The initial detection and monitoring of tropical storms that may become hurricanes is accomplished by: a. satellites. b. coastal observers. c. ocean ships. d. ocean buoys. e. aircraft.
Satellites
Doppler radars: a. detect condensation nuclei. b. detect lightning strokes. c. have much greater range than conventional radars. d. show the motion of precipitation particles. e. show the motion of air in clear areas.
Show the motion of precipitation particles
Why is the eye region of a hurricane largely free of precipitation and clouds? a. cooler temperatures b. pressure gradient is weaker c. rising air motion d. sinking air motion
Sinking air motion
________ are relatively narrow, elongated bands of thunderstorms that develop in the warm sector of a middle-latitude cyclone, usually in advance of a cold front. a. Mesocyclones b. Roll clouds c. Squall lines d. Supercells
Squall lines
As a strong hurricane moves ashore, which of the following causes the most devastating damage in the coastal zone? a. lightning b. strong winds c. storm surge d. torrential rains
Storm surge
The greatest number of hurricane-related deaths may be attributed to: a. storm surge. b. strong winds. c. lightning. d. inland freshwater flooding. e. tornadoes.
Storm surge
Some of the most dangerous weather is produced by a type of thunderstorm called a: a. updraft. b. gust front. c. supercell. d. roll cloud.
Supercell
Which of the following statements about the celestial sphere is not true? a. From any location on Earth, we can see only half the celestial sphere at any one time. b. When we look in the sky, the stars all appear to be located on the celestial sphere. c. The "celestial sphere" is just another name for our universe. d. The celestial sphere does not exist physically. e. Earth is placed at the center of the celestial sphere.
The "celestial sphere" is just another name for our universe
Which of the following statements about the celestial sphere is not true? a. The "celestial sphere" is just another name for our universe. b. When we look in the sky, the stars all appear to be located on the celestial sphere. c. Earth is placed at the center of the celestial sphere. d. The celestial sphere does not exist physically.
The "celestial sphere" is just another name for our universe
Why don't hurricanes develop on or near the Equator? a. The ITCZ inhibits the growth of the hurricane's thunderstorms. b. The question is false; hurricanes develop on the Equator all the time! c. The Coriolis effect is too weak to create rotation. d. The water is too warm to allow for the storm's development.
The Coriolis effect is too weak to create rotation.
Which of the following statements about the Moon is true? a. The side of the Moon facing away from Earth is in perpetual darkness. b. The Moon is visible only at night. c. If you see a full Moon from North America, someone in South America would see a new Moon. d. The Moon's distance from Earth varies during its orbit. e. The Moon goes through a cycle of phases because it always has the same side facing Earth.
The Moon's distance from Earth varies during its orbit
In addition to the conditions required for any solar eclipse, what must also be true in order for you to observe a total solar eclipse? a. Earth must be near aphelion in its orbit of the Sun. b. Earth must lie completely within the Moon's umbra. c. The Moon's penumbra must touch the area where you are located. d. The Moon's umbra must touch the area where you are located. e. Earth must lie completely within the Moon's penumbra.
The Moon's umbra must touch the area where you are located
In addition to the conditions required for any solar eclipse, what must also be true in order for you to observe a total solar eclipse? a. Earth must lie completely within the Moon's umbra. b. The Moon's umbra must touch the area where you are located. c. Earth must lie completely within the Moon's penumbra. d. Earth must be near aphelion in its orbit of the Sun. e. The Moon's penumbra must touch the area where you are located.
The Moon's umbra must touch the area where you are located
Why is it summer in the Northern Hemisphere when it is winter in the Southern Hemisphere? a. It isn't: both hemispheres have the same seasons at the same time. b. The Northern Hemisphere is tilted toward the Sun and receives more direct sunlight. c. The Northern Hemisphere is "on top" of Earth and therefore receives more sunlight. d. The Northern Hemisphere is closer to the Sun than the Southern Hemisphere. e. The Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun and receives more indirect sunlight.
The Northern Hemisphere is tilted toward the Sun and receives more direct sunlight
Which of the following never goes in retrograde motion? a. the Sun b. Saturn c. Jupiter d. Mars e. Venus
The Sun
Suppose the Sun were to suddenly shrink in size but its mass remained the same. According to the law of conservation of angular momentum, what would happen? a. The Sun would rotate faster than it does now. b. The Sun's angular size in our sky would stay the same. c. This could never happen, because it is impossible for an object to shrink in size without an outside torque. d. The Sun's rate of rotation would slow.
The Sun would rotate faster than it does now
What is the ecliptic? a. the Sun's apparent path along the celestial sphere b. the Sun's daily path across the sky c. the Moon's apparent path along the celestial sphere d. the constellations commonly used in astrology to predict the future e. when the Moon passes in front of the Sun
The Sun's apparent path along the celestial sphere
What is an astronomical unit? a. any basic unit used in astronomy b. the length of time it takes Earth to revolve around the Sun c. the average speed of Earth around the Sun d. the average distance from Earth to the Sun e. the diameter of Earth's orbit around the Sun
The average distance from Earth to the Sun
What does temperature measure? a. the average kinetic energy of particles in a substance b. the total potential energy of particles in a substance c. the total amount of heat in a substance d. the average mass of particles in a substance
The average kinetic energy of particles in a substance
Hurricanes do not generally strike the West Coast of the United States because: a. the cold ocean current along the West Coast quickly kills any storms that move into the area. b. hurricanes in this area generally veer west and strike Mexico before making it to the United States. c. hurricanes don't form in the Pacific Ocean very often. d. strong winds in the area generally prevent tropical storms from maintaining hurricane strength.
The cold ocean current along the West Coast quickly kills any storms that move into the area
All of the following statements are true. Which one explains the reason why there is not a solar eclipse at every new Moon? a. The Moon is the primary cause of tides on Earth. b. The sidereal month is shorter than the lunar month. c. The nodes of the Moon's orbit precess with an 18-year period. d. The Moon rotates synchronously with its revolution about Earth. e. The orbital plane of the Moon is tilted by about 5° to the ecliptic plane.
The orbital plane of the Moon is tilted by about 5° to the ecliptic plane
What conditions are required for a lunar eclipse? a. The phase of the Moon must be new, and the nodes of the Moon's orbit must be nearly aligned with Earth and the Sun. b. The phase of the Moon can be new or full, and the nodes of the Moon's orbit must be nearly aligned with Earth and the Sun. c. The phase of the Moon must be new, and the Moon's orbital plane must lie in the ecliptic. d. The phase of the Moon must be full, and the Moon's orbital plane must lie in the ecliptic. e. The phase of the Moon must be full, and the nodes of the Moon's orbit must be nearly aligned with Earth and the Sun.
The phase of the Moon must be full, and the nodes of the Moon's orbit must be nearly aligned with Earth and the Sun
What conditions are required for a solar eclipse? a. The phase of the Moon must be new, and the Moon's orbital plane must lie in the ecliptic. b. The phase of the Moon must be full, and the Moon's orbital plane must lie in the ecliptic. c. The phase of the Moon must be new, and the nodes of the Moon's orbit must be nearly aligned with Earth and the Sun. d. The phase of the Moon can be new or full, and the nodes of the Moon's orbit must be nearly aligned with Earth and the Sun. e. The phase of the Moon must be full, and the nodes of the Moon's orbit must be nearly aligned with Earth and the Sun.
The phase of the Moon must be new, and the nodes of the Moon's orbit must be nearly aligned with Earth and the Sun
Why were ancient peoples unable to detect stellar parallax? a. They could not see distant stars. b. They did detect it, but they rejected the observations. c. They did not have the ability to measure very small angles. d. They did not look for it. e. They did not observe for long enough periods of time.
They did not have the ability to measure very small angles
Which of the following best describes the origin of ocean tides on Earth? a. Tides are caused on the side of Earth nearest the Moon because the Moon's gravity attracts the water. b. The Moon's gravity pulls harder on water than on land, because water is less dense than rock. c. Tides are caused by the 23.5° tilt of Earth's rotational axis to the ecliptic plane. d. Tides are caused by the difference in the force of gravity exerted by the Moon across the sphere of Earth.
Tides are cause by the difference in the force of gravity exerted by the Moon across the sphere of Earth
Why did Ptolemy have the planets orbiting Earth on "circles upon circles" in his model of the universe? a. To explain why Venus goes through phases as seen from Earth b. to explain why more distant planets take longer to make a circuit through the constellations of the zodiac c. to explain why the Greeks were unable to detect stellar parallax d. to explain the fact that planets sometimes appear to move westward, rather than eastward, relative to the stars in our sky e. To properly account for the varying distances of the planets from Earth
To explain the fact that planets sometimes appear to move westward, rather than eastward, relative to the stars in our sky
Which of the following should have the steepest pressure gradient? a. tornado b. typhoon c. hurricane d. middle-latitude cyclone
Tornado
The Fujita Intensity Scale (F-scale) is applied to: a. thunderstorms. b. typhoons. c. lightning. d. tornadoes.
Tornadoes
When a cyclone's strongest winds do not exceed 37 miles per hour it is called a: a. dust devil. b. tropical depression. c. hurricane. d. tornado. e. tropical storm.
Tropical depression
What is the proper order of storm intensity in terms of increasing wind speed? a. tropical storm, hurricane, tropical depression b. tropical depression, hurricane, tropical storm c. tropical storm, tropical depression, hurricane d. hurricane, tropical depression, tropical storm e. tropical depression, tropical storm, hurricane
Tropical depression, tropical storm, hurricane.
Astronomy and astrology were often practiced together in ancient cultures, and astrology played an important role in the historical development of astronomy. Select one: True False
True
Galileo found "imperfections" on the Sun in the form of sunspots and "imperfections" on the Moon in the form of mountains and valleys. Select one: True False
True
When occurring in the Atlantic Ocean they are known as hurricanes, what are they known as when occurring in the western Pacific? a. cyclones b. typhoons c. tropical breezes d. tsunamis
Typhoons
Thunderstorms and large cumulus clouds are characteristic of: a. stable air. b. all warm fronts. c. all polar air masses. d. isothermal lapse rates. e. unstable air.
Unstable air
Which of the following statements is not true of tornadoes? a. usually occur along the warm front of a midlatitude cyclone b. occur most frequently in the spring of the year c. most common in the Midwest and Great Plains d. generally move from the southwest toward the northeast e. associated with cumulonimbus clouds
Usually occur along the warm front of a midlatitude cyclone
he circulation in the immediate vicinity of a thunderstorm is: a. variable and gusty. b. anticyclonic. c. calm. d. cyclonic.
Variable and gusty
The difference between speed and velocity is that: a. velocity is the same as acceleration whereas speed is different. b. velocity also includes a direction. c. they are expressed in different units. d. velocity is calculated using a physics equation.
Velocity also includes a direction
Why do hurricanes initially form only in the tropics? a. Coriolis is weaker there. b. Subsiding air currents are found there. c. Stronger pressure gradients are found there. d. Warm water temperatures are found there.
Warm water temperatures are found there
Thunderstorms form when ________, humid air rises in aNo ________ environment. a. warm; unstable b. warm; stable c. cold; unstable d. cold; stable
Warm; unstable
Prediction success and observation of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes by the National Weather Service is limited because: a. the structure of thunderstorms is not well known. b. observers are not always well trained. c. lightning activity prevents accurate radar detection. d. weather stations are widely spaced compared to the size of the storm. e. wind speeds are too fast to measure.
Weather stations are widely spaced compared to the size of the storm
Which of the following statements is not one of Newton's laws of motion? a. For any force, there always is an equal and opposite reaction force. b. In the absence of a net force acting upon it, an object moves with constant velocity. c. What goes up must come down. d. The rate of change of momentum of an object is equal to the net force applied to the object.
What goes up must come down
What determines when a tropical depression or storm is given hurricane status? a. central pressure b. diameter c. water temperature d. wind speed
Wind speed
