15.3 Assessment

Which of the following best describes the relationship between temperature and heat?

• Temperature measures total energy while heat measures vibration speed
• Heat and temperature are the same thing
• Temperature measures vibration speed while heat measures total energy
• Neither temperature nor heat relate to particle vibration

What happens to the temperature of water as it changes from liquid to gas at its boiling point?

• The temperature increases rapidly
• The temperature remains constant
• The temperature decreases slightly
• The temperature fluctuates unpredictably

Which factor contributes most significantly to the seasons on Earth?

• The Earth's distance from the Sun
• The tilt of Earth's axis
• The speed of Earth's rotation
• The size of the oceans

How does the atmosphere affect incoming solar radiation?

• It amplifies all wavelengths
• It has no effect on incoming radiation
• It filters out some wavelengths
• It reverses the direction of all radiation

What is the primary cause of convection in the atmosphere?

• The Coriolis effect
• Differences in air pressure
• Heat radiating from the ground
• The Earth's magnetic field

Which region of Earth receives the most direct solar radiation throughout the year?

• The poles
• The temperate zones
• The equator
• The tropics of Cancer and Capricorn

What is the main reason that polar regions have a high albedo?

• They have more vegetation
• They are covered in ice and snow
• They have more clouds
• They have a thicker atmosphere

How does the greenhouse effect influence Earth's temperature?

• It cools the planet by reflecting heat
• It warms the planet by trapping heat
• It has no effect on temperature
• It causes rapid temperature fluctuations

Which of the following is NOT a naturally occurring greenhouse gas?

• Carbon dioxide
• Water vapor
• Methane
• Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)

What would likely happen if Earth's heat budget became unbalanced with more energy coming in than going out?

• Global temperatures would decrease
• Global temperatures would increase
• There would be no change in global temperatures
• Seasons would cease to exist