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Chapter 12 Study Guide



Multiple Choice
Identify the letter of the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
 

 1. 

Wavelengths that are a little bit shorter than visible light are
a.
infrared.
b.
red.
c.
violet.
d.
ultraviolet.
 

 2. 

Most of Earth's incoming ultraviolet radiation is absorbed by
a.
clouds.
b.
dust.
c.
ozone.
d.
water vapor.
 

 3. 

Most of the energy that heats Earth's atmosphere is
a.
visible light.
b.
ultraviolet light.
c.
blue light.
d.
infrared radiation.
 

 4. 

The greenhouse effect is
a.
the absorption of energy by clouds.
b.
a gradual increase in the temperature of the atmosphere.
c.
the reflection of solar energy into the atmosphere.
d.
the process by which gases hold heat in the atmosphere.
 

 5. 

The total energy of motion in the molecules of a substance is called
a.
radiation.
b.
absorbed energy.
c.
thermal energy.
d.
temperature.
 

 6. 

Heat transfer between two substances that are in contact is called
a.
conduction.
b.
thermal energy.
c.
convection.
d.
radiation.
 

 7. 

Heat from a campfire reaches you by
a.
conduction.
b.
light emission.
c.
convection.
d.
radiation.
 

 8. 

Most of the heating of the troposphere comes from
a.
conduction.
b.
induction.
c.
convection.
d.
radiation.
 

 9. 

Convection takes place because
a.
warm air is more dense than light air.
b.
warm and cold air have the same density.
c.
cold air is less dense than warm air.
d.
cold air is more dense than warm air.
 

 10. 

Winds are caused by differences in
a.
precipitation.
b.
humidity.
c.
air pressure.
d.
turbulence.
 

 11. 

Cool air masses tend to
a.
be less dense and flow over warm air masses.
b.
be lifted up by more dense warm air masses.
c.
be less dense and flow under warm air masses.
d.
mix easily with warm air masses.
 

 12. 

Wind speed is measured by a(an)
a.
barometer.
b.
anemometer.
c.
thermometer.
d.
hygrometer.
 

 13. 

Local winds differ from global winds because they
a.
are caused by unequal heating within a small area.
b.
are caused by differences in cloud cover.
c.
are due to unequal rainfall.
d.
are not influenced by air masses.
 

 14. 

Land breezes occur because
a.
land cools off faster than water.
b.
land cools off more slowly than water.
c.
land heats up faster than water.
d.
land heats up more slowly than water.
 

 15. 

Global winds generally
a.
are not influenced by the heating of Earth's surface.
b.
are unpredictable.
c.
change directions from day to day.
d.
blow from specific directions over long distances.
 

 16. 

Earth's rotation makes winds seem to curve. This is called the
a.
convection effect.
b.
global effect.
c.
Coriolis effect.
d.
rotational effect.
 

 17. 

Relative humidity can be measured with a
a.
hydrometer.
b.
barometer.
c.
psychrometer.
d.
thermometer.
 

 18. 

Clouds form when water vapor in the air
a.
falls to the ground.
b.
is deposited as ice onto a solid surface.
c.
condenses onto a solid surface.
d.
becomes liquid water or ice crystals.
 

 19. 

Large clouds that often produce thunderstorms are called
a.
stratus clouds.
b.
cumulonimbus clouds.
c.
cirrus clouds.
d.
nimbostratus clouds.
 

 20. 

Very high feathery clouds are called
a.
stratus clouds.
b.
cumulonimbus clouds.
c.
cirrus clouds.
d.
nimbostratus clouds.
 

 21. 

Layered clouds that often cover much of the sky are called
a.
stratus clouds.
b.
cumulonimbus clouds.
c.
cirrus clouds.
d.
cumulus clouds.
 

 22. 

Any form of water that falls from clouds is called
a.
dew.
b.
evaporation.
c.
condensation.
d.
precipitation.
 

 23. 

The difference between sleet and hail is
a.
the temperature of the ice pellets.
b.
the size of the ice pellets.
c.
where the ice pellets formed.
d.
both B and C
 

Modified True/False
Indicate whether the sentence or statement is true or false.  If false, change the identified word or phrase to make the sentence or statement true.
 

 24. 

The wavelengths of violet light are shorter than the wavelengths of ultraviolet radiation. _________________________

 

 25. 

When heated, Earth's surface radiates some of the energy back into the atmosphere as infrared radiation. _________________________

 

 26. 

Fluids like air tend to move toward areas of high pressure. _________________________

 

 27. 

Local winds blow over shorter distances than global winds. _________________________

 

 28. 

Earth's major wind belts are the trade winds, the prevailing westerlies, and the polar latitudes. _________________________

 

 29. 

When you touch a hot spoon, heat is transferred by conduction from the spoon to your hand. _________________________

 

 30. 

The three main types of clouds are cumulus, stratus, and altos. _________________________

 

Short Answer
 
 
chp_12_study_guide_files/i0340000.jpg
 

 31. 

What is the temperature of the dry-bulb thermometer?
 

 32. 

What is the temperature of the wet-bulb thermometer?
 

 33. 

How do the temperatures of the wet-bulb and dry-bulb thermometers compare?
 
 
chp_12_study_guide_files/i0380000.jpg
 

 34. 

In diagram X, which way does the wind blow? Why?
 

 35. 

In diagram Y, which way does the wind blow? Why?
 

Essay
 

 36. 

Contrast the three ways in which heat is transferred.
 

 37. 

Define relative humidity and explain how it is measured.
 

 38. 

Name the type of cloud that looks like rows of cotton balls very high in the sky. What kind of weather can you predict from these clouds?
 

 39. 

Explain why the region near the equator has little or no wind.
 

 40. 

Explain the difference between sleet and freezing rain.
 



 
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