CHAPTER 4
HEAT, TEMPERATURE, AND ATMOSPHERIC CIRCULATION
______
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS
1.Heat is defined as
a. the equivalent of temperature.
b. a measure of the average kinetic molecular activity of a substance.
c. the name given to the energy transferred between objects at different temperatures.
d. the coldness or hotness of a substance.
*c. the name given to the energy transferred between objects at different temperatures.
2.Temperature is defined as
a. the equivalent of heat.
b. a measure of the average kinetic energy of the individual atoms or molecules composing a substance.
c. how hot or cold it is.
d. the total kinetic energy of the atoms or molecules composing a substance.
e. None of the above is correct.
*b. a measure of the average kinetic energy of the individual atoms or molecules composing a substance.
3.As long as there is no change in phase of a substance, temperature is ______proportional to the addition of heat.
a. directly
b. inversely
*a. directly
4. The Fahrenheit temperature scale
a. is the international standard for most scientific purposes.
b. has the numerical convenience of a 100-degree interval between the freezing and boiling points of pure water.
c. is still commonly used in weather reports and forecasts in the United States.
d. begins at absolute zero.
e. is the same as the Kelvin scale.
*c. is still commonly used in weather reports and forecasts in the United States.
5.The freezing point of pure water at sea-level is ______oF or ______oC.
a. 0.....32
b. 212.....100
c. 32.....0
*c. 32.....0
6.The boiling point of pure water at sea-level is ______oF or ______oC.
a. 0.....32
b. 100.....212
c. 212.....100
*c. 212.....100
7.On the absolute temperature scale, the freezing point of pure water at sea-level is ______K.
a. 0
b. 273.15
c. 100
d. 32
e. 67
*b. 273.15
8.Absolute zero is the temperature at which
a. all molecular and submolecular activity ceases.
b. no electromagnetic radiation is emitted.
c. ice begins to vaporize.
d. snow begins to melt.
e. liquid water begins to vaporize.
*b. no electromagnetic radiation is emitted.
9.In localities where winter temperatures drop below -40 oC, the liquid in a liquid-in-glass thermometer must be
a. water.
b. alcohol.
c. oxygen.
d. mercury.
e. nitrogen.
*b. alcohol.
10.An increment of 1 Celsius degree corresponds precisely to an increment of
a. 1 Fahrenheit degree.
b. 1 kelvin.
c. 2 kelvins.
*b. 1 kelvin.
11.The following is a unit of heat energy:
a. Btu
b. calorie
c. joule
d. All of these are correct.
e. None of these is correct.
*d. All of these are correct.
12.As a rule, which one of the following is the best conductor of heat?
a. air
b. water
c. metal
d. nitrogen
e. water vapor
*c. metal
13.When two objects are in direct physical contact, heat is always conducted from the ______object to the ______object.
a. colder...... warmer
b. wetter...... drier
c. warmer...... colder
d. drier...... wetter
e. darker...... lighter
*c. warmer...... colder
14.The heat conductivity of a fresh snow cover is ______the heat conductivity of an old snow cover.
a. greater than
b. less than
c. about the same as
*b. less than
15.Still (or calm) air is a relatively ______conductor of heat.
a. good
b. poor
*b. poor
16.Heat is conducted within and between
a. solids.
b. liquids.
c. gases.
d. All of these are correct.
*d. All of these are correct.
17.Heat is transferred from the sun-warmed surface of the Earth to the cooler overlying troposphere via
a. conduction.
b. convection
c. latent heating.
d. phase changes of water.
e. All of these are correct.
*e. All of these are correct.
18.At night, the ground surface often is cooler than the air immediately over the ground. In that case, heat is conducted from the ______to the ______.
a. atmosphere...... ground
b. ground...... atmosphere
*a. atmosphere...... ground
19.Within the Earth-atmosphere system heat convection takes place in
a. solids only.
b. liquids only.
c. gases only.
d. solids, liquids, and gases.
e. liquids or gases.
*e. liquids or gases.
20.At the same pressure, cold air is ______warm air.
a. more dense than
b. about as dense as
c. not as dense as
*a. more dense than
21.Which one of the following heat transfer processes can take place in a vacuum?
a. conduction
b. convection
c. latent heating
d. radiation
e. None of these is correct.
*d. radiation
22.In response to the same input of heat, which one of the following substances exhibits the smallest rise in temperature?
a. sand
b. ice
c. water
d. brick
e. aluminum
*c. water
23.Ten calories of heat are added to two grams of liquid water. The temperature of the water
a. rises by 10 Celsius degrees.
b. rises by 5 Celsius degrees.
c. rises by 20 Celsius degrees.
d. drops by 10 Celsius degrees.
e. does not change.
*b. rises by 5 Celsius degrees.
24.At the same latitude, the seasonal (summer to winter) temperature contrast in maritime climates is ______the seasonal temperature contrast in continental climates.
a. greater than
b. less than
c. the same as
*b. less than
25. Which one of the following cities has the most continental climate?
a. San Francisco
b. Boston
c. Kansas City
d. Miami
e. Los Angeles
*c. Kansas City
26.This afternoon's high temperature was 55 oF and this morning's low temperature was 33 oF. The mean daily temperature was ______oF.
a. 88
b. 22
c. 44
d. 65
e. 0
*c. 44
27. This afternoon's high temperature was 27 oF and the early morning low temperature was 7 oF. The total heating degree-days for today was
a. 17
b. 82
c. 0
d. 38
e. 48
*e. 48
28.The windchill equivalent temperature (WET) is the same as the actual air temperature when the wind speed is
a. nearly calm.
b. more than 20 m per sec.
c. 10 miles per hour.
d. highly variable.
*a. nearly calm.
29.In response to a temperature gradient, heat flows from where it is warmer to where it is colder. This behavior illustrates
a. the law of energy conservation.
b. Stefan-Boltzmann law.
c. Wien's displacement law.
d. the second law of thermodynamics.
e. the law of reflection.
*d. the second law of thermodynamics.
30. On a global and annual average within the troposphere, the rate of radiational heating ______the rate of radiational cooling.
a. is greater than
b. is equal to
c. is less than
*c. is less than
31.On a global and annual average at the Earth's surface, the rate of radiational heating ______the rate of radiational cooling.
a. is greater than
b. is equal to
c. is less than
*a. is greater than
32. A process whereby heat is transported from the Earth's surface into the troposphere is
a. conduction.
b. convection.
c. evaporation and condensation of water.
d. radiation.
e. All of the above are correct.
*e. All of the above are correct.
33.Sensible heating includes transfer of heat via
a. conduction and convection.
b. electromagnetic radiation.
c. evaporation and condensation of water.
d. phase changes of water.
e. None of the above is correct.
*a. conduction and convection.
34.Latent heat is released to the environment when
a. water freezes.
b. water evaporates.
c. ice melts.
d. snow vaporizes.
e. None of these is correct.
*a. water freezes.
35.An example of latent heating:
a. conduction and convection
b. radiational cooling
c. vaporization of ocean water followed by cloud development
d. All of the above are correct.
e. None of the above is correct.
*c. vaporization of ocean water followed by cloud development
36.On a global scale, the most important mechanism whereby the excess heat at the Earth's surface is transported to the troposphere is
a. sensible heating.
b. latent heating.
c. convection.
d. conduction.
e. None of these is correct.
*b. latent heating.
37.The Bowen ratio is the ratio of the amount of heat that is used for ______to the amount of heat that is used for ______.
a. sensible heating...... latent heating
b. vaporizing water...... raising air temperature
c. conduction...... convection
d. radiation...... vaporizing water
e. latent heating...... melting snow
*a. sensible heating...... latent heating
38.The Bowen ratio is greater over a ______surface than over a ______surface.
a. dry...... moist
b. moist...... dry
*a. dry...... moist
39.At middle and high latitudes over the course of a year, the rate of radiational cooling is ______the rate of radiational heating.
a. greater than
b. equal to
c. less than
*a. greater than
40.At the equator over the course of a year, the rate of cooling due to emission of infrared radiation to space is ______the rate of warming due to absorption of solar radiation.
a. greater than
b. equal to
c. less than
*c. less than
41.Along the Tropic of Cancer over the course of a year, the rate of warming due to absorption of solar radiation is ______the rate of cooling due to emission of infrared radiation to space.
a. greater than
b. equal to
c. less than
*a. greater than
42.Excess heat in tropical latitudes is transported to middle and high latitudes primarily by
a. ocean currents.
b. exchange of air masses.
c. storms.
d. radiation.
e. convection.
*b. exchange of air masses.
43. An air mass is a large volume of air that is relatively uniform horizontally in
a. temperature.
b. humidity.
c. Both of the above are correct.
*c. Both of the above are correct.
44.Ultimately, the atmosphere circulates because of
a. sensible heating.
b. conduction and convection.
c. unequal rates of radiational heating and cooling.
d. latent heating.
e. nuclear fission.
*c. unequal rates of radiational heating and cooling.
45.Air temperature is governed by
a. local radiation conditions.
b. air mass advection.
c. Both of the above are correct.
*c. Both of the above are correct.
46.All other factors being equal, this afternoon's air temperature will be highest if the ground is
a. snow covered.
b. bare of snow but wet.
c. moist.
d. vegetated and dry.
e. dry and not vegetated.
*e. dry and not vegetated.
47.All other factors being equal, cloudiness tends to ______nighttime temperatures.
a. have no effect upon
b. increase the rate of fall of
c. slow the rate of fall of
*c. slow the rate of fall of
48.All other factors being equal, a snowcover tends to ______the day's maximum air temperature and ______the day's minimum air temperature.
a. raise...... lower
b. lower...... lower
c. have no effect on...... lower
d. lower...... raise
e. raise...... raise
*b. lower...... lower
49.The air temperature rises throughout the night. This unusual event is explained by
a. nocturnal radiational cooling.
b. moonshine.
c. strong warm air advection.
d. strong winds from the north.
e. the absence of solar radiation.
*c. strong warm air advection.
50.Air mass advection occurs when winds blow ______regional isotherms.
a. parallel to
b. across
*b. across