Choose the best answer.
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1 | |
How does friction affect the wind near the earth's surface? |
| | A) | Friction slows the wind down. |
| | B) | Friction causes the wind to blow across height contours/isobars toward lower heights/pressure. |
| | C) | Friction pulls the wind down toward the ground. |
| | D) | A and B are true. |
| | E) | All statements are true. |
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2 | |
Changes in surface atmospheric pressure are best explained by: |
| | A) | changes in air density. |
| | B) | changes in air temperature. |
| | C) | changes in atmospheric mass. |
| | D) | all of these changes lead to changes in pressure. |
| | E) | none of the above. |
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3 | |
The deflective force arising from the earth's rotation is called: |
| | A) | Coriolis force. |
| | B) | gravity. |
| | C) | pressure gradient force. |
| | D) | centripetal force. |
| | E) | friction. |
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4 | |
The atmosphere presses down on every square inch of your body with nearly 15 pounds of force. The fact that we aren't crushed like beer cans at a frat party is due to: |
| | A) | Newton's first law of motion. |
| | B) | Newton's second law of motion. |
| | C) | Newton's third law of motion. |
| | D) | Law of universal gravitation. |
| | E) | Kepler's law. |
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5 | |
Which of the following statements is/are true? |
| | A) | Surface high pressure systems are characterized by converging winds in low levels and diverging winds in upper levels. |
| | B) | Surface low pressure systems are characterized by converging winds in upper levels and diverging winds in low levels. |
| | C) | Surface pressure changes occur when upper-level divergence/convergence exceeds low-level convergence/divergence. |
| | D) | Atmospheric matter (air) can be created and destroyed. |
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6 | |
How are frontal zones and jet streams related? |
| | A) | Frontal zones are regions of sharp temperature contrasts, which lead to strong pressure gradients, and therefore strong wind speeds. |
| | B) | Cold air on the poleward side of the polar front/jet stream and warm air on the equatorward side of the polar front/jet stream results in a strong wind that typically blows from south to north. |
| | C) | A weak polar front results in a strong jet stream. |
| | D) | Jet streams and frontal zones are not related whatsoever. |
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7 | |
The fact that it takes a greater amount of force to move a car from a standing stop than it does a bike is a consequence of: |
| | A) | Newton's first law of motion. |
| | B) | Newton's second law of motion. |
| | C) | Newton's third law of motion. |
| | D) | Newton's law of universal gravitation. |
| | E) | Kepler's law. |
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8 | |
The geostrophic wind results from a balance between: |
| | A) | Coriolis force and centripetal force. |
| | B) | centripetal force, pressure gradient force, and Coriolis force. |
| | C) | pressure gradient force and Coriolis force. |
| | D) | pressure gradient force, Coriolis force, and friction. |
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9 | |
What causes a warm, humid mass of air to move (generally) northward? |
| | A) | Magnetic attraction of the air mass toward the north pole. |
| | B) | Differences in surface atmospheric pressure lead to air motion. |
| | C) | The earth's rotation about its axis. |
| | D) | Gravity. |
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10 | |
The 'thickness rule' allows us to draw which of the following conclusions? |
| | A) | The thickness of a layer of air is directly proportional to the average temperature of that layer. |
| | B) | Ridges are typically characterized by relatively warm temperatures. |
| | C) | Troughs are typically characterized by relatively cold temperatures. |
| | D) | A, B, and C are true. |
| | E) | All of these conclusions are false. |
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11 | |
The gradient wind is a better 'approximation' of the real wind than the geostrophic wind because: |
| | A) | the gradient wind allows for curved isobars or height contours. |
| | B) | the gradient wind takes friction into account. |
| | C) | the gradient wind is in hydrostatic balance. |
| | D) | the gradient wind is usually stronger than the geostrophic wind. |
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12 | |
The attractive force that keeps our atmosphere from escaping into space is called: |
| | A) | pressure gradient force. |
| | B) | Coriolis force. |
| | C) | terrestrial magnetism. |
| | D) | friction. |
| | E) | gravity. |
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13 | |
Assuming a 'frictionless' pool table, a billiard ball that has been struck by a cue stick will continue moving at a constant speed in the same direction until it strikes something (cushion, another ball, etc.). This is an application of: |
| | A) | Newton's first law of motion. |
| | B) | Newton's second law of motion. |
| | C) | Newton's third law of motion. |
| | D) | Newton's law of universal gravitation. |
| | E) | Kepler's law. |
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14 | |
Areas of low pressure are typically characterized by ______ air and move toward regions where the pressure is ______ with time. |
| | A) | sinking; falling |
| | B) | rising; falling |
| | C) | sinking; rising |
| | D) | rising; rising |
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15 | |
Pressure gradient force: |
| | A) | accelerates air from areas of higher pressure to lower pressure. |
| | B) | causes the wind to blow. |
| | C) | is proportional to the difference in pressure between two areas. |
| | D) | all of the above are true. |
| | E) | none of the above is true. |
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2002 McGraw-Hill Higher Education