Science 1120 Physical Science Spring 2007: questions and topics for Test 2. 

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Thunder Storms and Tornadoes

Hurricanes including classifications of storm intensity

Climate Patterns including El Nino, La Nina, and the Jet Stream

Milankovitch Cycles, Sun Spots, and Astronomical effects on the Weather

Types of Air Pollution

Temperature inversions and pollution

Effects of air pollution on Minnesota’s environment

Acids and Bases, and the pH Scale

The Greenhouse affect and Global Warming, the Ozone Hole

Techniques to Measure past climates including Ice core samples and Dendrochronology

Techniques to measure climate in the Middle Ages

Types of Precipitation: Rain

, Snow, Sleet, Hail,

 Dew

 

Air Masses, Warm Fronts, Cold Fronts, and Occluded Fronts

 

 

 

 

Sample Questions for Test 2

1.       What is peak month for tornadoes in the U.S.?

a.                         February

b.                         April

c.                         June

d.                         July

e.                         September

  

   2. What is the peak month for Hurricanes in the Atlantic?

a.       February

b.       April

c.       June

d.       July

e.       September

 

  3. What types of clouds are associated with strong cold fronts in summer?

a.       Cumulus ahead and Cumulonimbus behind the front

b.       Cumulonimbus ahead and Cumulus behind the front

c.       Stratus ahead and Cumulus behind the front

d.       Cumulus ahead and Altostratus behind the front

e.       Cumulus ahead and Cirrus behind the front  

  

  4. Approximately what percentage of the people struck directly by lightening are killed instantly?

      a. 20%

      b. 80%

      c. 90%

      d. 95%

 

   5. A tropical storm becomes a hurricane when its wind speed reaches

      a. 35 mi/hr.

      b. 75 mi/hr.

      c. 105 mi/hr.

      d. 125 mi/hr.

 

   6. If you are caught outside during a thunderstorm, you should immediately

      a. take shelter under the nearest tree.

      b. kneel down in the nearest ditch or ravine.

      c. stand under some power lines because they will act as a lightning rod.

      d. move to the highest available ground.

 

7. What type of system is now being used to observe tornadoes as they form?

a.       Infrared satellites

b.       Electromagnetic sensors

c.       Doppler radar

d.       Pulsed lasers

e.       Trained weather observers

 

 8. Hurricanes derive their energy from

      a. latent heat of water.

      b. the Coriolis force of the atmosphere.

      c. gravitational force of water.

      d. specific heat of water.

      e. direct solar energy.

 

   9. The greatest cause of hurricane deaths is

      a. high winds.

      b. the storm surge.

      c. the eye of the hurricane.

      d. the length of the storm.

 

   10. Which one of the following is used in Ice Core samples to determine temperatures of the past?

      a. Ratio of C-12 to C-14 in the ice core samples

      b. Size of bubbles in the ice core samples

      c. Ratio of O-16 to O-18 in the ice core samples

      d. The depth of the ice core sample from the glacier

 

   11. One of the best indicators of photochemical smog is

      a. O3 .

      b. NOx .

      c. CO2.

      d. HC.

 

  12. Approximately how much SO2 was produced in the U.S. in 1992?

a.       250,000 tons

b.       7,000,000 tons

c.       22,000,000 tons

d.       2,000,000,000 tons

 

  13. A major source of air pollution is:

      a. temperature inversion.

      b. incomplete combustion.

      c. acid rain.

      d. nuclear electrical generation.

 

  14.  What is El Nino?

a.       A warm wind that originates from the Sierra Nevada Mountains

b.       A cold wind that originates from the Sierra Nevada Mountains

c.       A warming of the waters in the Caribbean in the Hurricane season

d.       A warming of the waters in the Gulf Stream that effects the climate of Europe

e.       A warming of the waters in the Pacific west of South America 

 

   15. The major source of SO2 pollution is

      a. industry.

      b. transportation.

      c. combustion for electrical generation.

      d. agricultural burning.

 

   16. Picnickers see a lightning flash of a thunderstorm and hear the thunder 10 seconds later.

  Approximately how far away, in miles, is the storm?

a.       0.5 miles

b.       1 mile

c.       2 miles

d.       5 miles

e.       10 miles

 

17. A solution with pH 4 is ______________ acidic than one with pH 6.

      a. 2 times more

      b. 5 times more

      c. 10 times more

      d. 100 times more

      e. 1000 times more

 

  18. What is La Nina?

a.       A warm wind that originates from the Sierra Nevada Mountains

b.       A cold wind that originates from the Sierra Nevada Mountains

c.       A warming of the waters in the Caribbean in the Hurricane season

d.       A cooling of the waters in the Gulf Stream that effects the climate of Europe

e.       A cooling of the waters in the Pacific west of South America 

 

  19. What was the average pH level for the lakes and rivers in Minnesota in 1998?

a.       2.2

b.       3.5

c.       5.2

d.       7.8

e.       9.8

 

 20. What is the lowest pressure ever measured on the Earth’s surface at sea level?

a.       653 mb

b.       728 mb

c.       882 mb

d.       989 mb

e.       999 mb

 

21. What do scientists could happen to Minnesota if atmospheric carbon dioxide levels are doubled?

a.       Minnesota's average temperature will decrease 15 to 20°C.

b.       Minnesota's average temperature will decrease 1 to 5°C.

c.       Minnesota’s climate would increase the forests in the state.

d.       Minnesota’s climate would become more like Iowa’s.

e.       Minnesota’s climate would become more like Colorado’s

 

22. Which one of the following pollutants tends to remain near its source?

   a. NOx

   b. CO2

   c. SO2

   d. Mercury

   e. Potassium