Download Name ____Date 11/18/14 Page 25 Meteorology and Astronomy Unit

Name _________________________________________________Date 11/18/14
Page 25
Meteorology and Astronomy Unit Test 11/20/14
This test is based on understanding the concepts for TEKS 8.7 A & C and 8.10 A-C. To be successful on this
test, you must understand the concepts and be able to discuss/describe in detail.
1. What is the difference between Earth’s rotation and revolution?
Rotation = spinning of Earth on its axis (24hrs)
Revolution = Earth revolving around the sun (365.25 days)
2. Why do day and night occur? Because the Earth is rotates on its axis.
Draw a detailed picture to describe the process. Make sure to label and identify any important factors such as
Earth’s axis, the North Star, and the direction Earth moves.
Axis (tilted 23.5 ⁰)
Earth rotates counter-clockwise and rotates on its
axis one complete turn in 24 hours.
3. What causes seasons to occur? Because Earth is tilted 23.5 ⁰, it receives different amounts of sunlight
throughout the year. Our seasons are caused by the revolution around the sun.
1. What effect does the gravitational pull of the Moon and the Sun have on Earth?
Tides are the periodic rise and fall of the ocean waters. They are caused by the gravitational pulls of the Moon
and Sun, as well as the rotation of the Earth. The Sun and Moon pull on the Earth, the water, even you!
2. What causes tides to occur on Earth? Gravitational pull from the moon and sun.
3. Why are we able to predict tides? Because of the phases of the moon.
4. What is a high tide? When the tides are at the highest level.
A low tide? When the tides are at the lowest level.
5. What is a neap tide? A tide that occurs when the difference between high and low tide is least; the lowest
level of high tide. Neap tide comes twice a month, in the first and third quarters of the moon.
A spring tide? A tide that occurs when the difference between high and low tide is greates; the highest level of
high tide. Spring tide comes twice a month, in the New and Full moon phases.
6. What are the two main causes of ocean tides? The gravitational pull of the Moon and Sun on the Earth.
7. The sand castle you made earlier is now washing away. What is most likely occurring? It is within 12 hours
after the last high tide and the ocean level is rising (high tide).
8. You fall asleep lying on your beach towel on the moist sand near the ocean waves, but when you wake up,
the edge of the ocean is much farther away from your towel. What is most likely the explanation?
The tides have moved out (low tides).
9. When the Moon, Earth, and Sun system are in the positions as shown in the diagram below, what kind of tide
does Earth’s waters experience?
B. Spring tide
10. When the Moon, Earth, and Sun system are in the positions as shown in the diagram, what kind of tide does
Earth’s waters experience?
A. Neap tide
1. What is the source for almost all of Earth’s energy?_SUN
2. Are all areas of Earth equally heated by the Sun? Why or why not? Because Earth is tilted on its axis, Earth
has unequal heating.
3. A pot of water and rice is boiling on the stove. Grains of rice rise to the surface of the water and then sink
back down to the bottom of the pot. What type of energy transfer is occurring to make the rice rise and fall?
C. Convection
2. What is convection? It is the rising of heated air molecules and the sinking of cold air molecules.
3. Explain and illustrate how wind is formed? Wind is caused from the uneven heating of Earth’s surface which
causes convection currents. The rising of warm air molecules and sinking of cold air molecules creates wind.
4. Discuss how ocean currents formed? The wind moves across the ocean creating friction with the ocean water.
The friction causes the water to move in the direction of the wind. This causes ocean currents to form.
1. What is the weight of air over an area called as symbolized in the graphic below?
Low pressure and the air pressure is heavy.
2. What does the symbol in the picture below represent on a weather map?
Cold front is moving through an area.
3. A hot air balloon rises into the cool, morning sky. Why can the balloon rise?
A hot air balloon is heated up and heat rises.
4. A line of tornadoes and thunderstorms sweep through an area. What has occurred to produce such violent
storms?
A cold front moved through an area.
5. A student is drawing a weather map. An area of low pressure is moving up from the Gulf Coast and
overriding colder air. How should this be marked on the map? Draw it below.
Because the air is coming from the Gulf Coast (warm air), it is a warm front over taking a cold front.
6. How are cold fronts different from warm fronts? Cold fronts are defined by cold air advancing, sliding under
and displacing warmer air - they are steeper and move more quickly.
Warm air cannot displace cold air easily because it is less dense. Therefore, it rides up and over it, producing
stratus and nimbostratus clouds where light precipitation falls.
7. What is the role of air pressure in the formation of weather conditions? High pressure will bring good
weather and push out any bad weather. Low pressure will bring bad weather and clouds.
1. What causes a hurricane to form? Hurricanes get their energy from warm ocean waters and warm moist air.
As ocean water increases in temperature, it slowly turns into water vapor. The warmer the water temperature is,
the higher the water vapor rises. After water vapor has risen, it begins condensing into rain in the form of
clouds. When the clouds release the rain, heat is released as well. When the heat stays in the same area, the eye
of the hurricane if formed.
2. Stavanger, Norway has a warmer climate than the rest of Norway. What could cause this? The warm Gulf
Ocean Current flows up along Norway causing it to be warmer all year long.
b. The Gulf Stream current carries warm water to the Stavanger area.
3. Galveston, Texas has warm, humid weather much of the year while the weather in San Francisco, California
is typically cool. What is regulating the weather in these areas? The moisture from the ocean and the direction
the ocean current is flowing.