MIDTERM PRACTICE EXAM ANSWERS 1. (2) Location B shows that the altitude of the noon Sun increases between Dec 21. and June 21. Location B also shows that the Dec. 21 noon Sun is at an altitude of approximately 25 o and the June 21 st Sun at about 72 o. (location D is incorrect for NY because it shows the noon Sun in Dec. to be at 0 o.) 2. (3).75 o C / min Rate of change = change in value / time = 50 o C 20 o C / 40 minutes =.75 o C / min 3. (3) C The Sun is most intense when it is highest in the sky. The higher the Sun, the shorter the shadow. 4. (1) The density of the air would decrease and the air would rise toward the ceiling. When air is heated, the molecules spread apart and the body of air becomes less dense. Less dense air rises up and is replaced by cold air that sinks. (convection) 5. (3) changes in tides Tides occur in predictable patterns (about 12.5 hours between high tides). 6. (3) 66.5 o N and 90 o N Since the Earth is tilted away from the Sun, areas near the North Pole within the Arctic Circle get zero hours of daylight (24 hours darkness). Then, in June, these same areas get 24 hours of daylight. 7. (4) one month One full cycle of Moon phases is 29.5 days. The ESRT page 15 Solar System Data chart says that one complete revolution of the Moon is 27.3 days. Both numbers are very close to one month s time. 8. (2) expanding, only The evidence scientist used to help prove the Universe is expanding is called Doppler red shift. Light from distant galaxies speeding away from the Milky Way is stretched into longer wavelengths. 9. (2) melting of ice The ESRT page 1 Properties of Water chart indicates that heat is gained during melting or vaporization, while heat is released during freezing or condensation. Since absorbing heat means heat is gained, then melting must be the right answer.
10. (3) The glass allows short wavelengths of radiation to enter, but reduces the amount of long-wavelength radiation that escapes. This statement basically describes exactly what happens with the greenhouse effect short-wave visible light enters the greenhouse, but long-wave infrared energy that is re-radiated gets trapped by the glass. 11. (3) closer to the Sun, lower in mass, and higher in density These 3 qualities describe Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars. Two other qualities of the terrestrial planets are that they have small equatorial diameters and have solid, rocky surfaces. (The ESRT page 15 Solar System Data can help remind you of these qualities.) 12. (1) rotates on its axis - Foucault s pendulum was the experiment that proved the Earth rotated 13. (4) spiral-shaped with billions of stars The Milky Way is a spiral galaxy that is made of billions of stars. The Sun and Solar System is located on one of the spiral arms 14. (2) new moon, spring tide, possible solar eclipse Position A is where the Sun, Earth, and Moon are aligned. The side of the Moon facing the Earth is totally dark, making it the new Moon. Also, the straight-line alignment causes a spring tide to occur (greatest difference in high and low tide). Finally, if the Moon is at position A, there is a chance that the Moon could block the Sun s rays from reaching the Earth this is a solar eclipse 15. (3) summer The Earth is farthest from the Sun during the Northern Hemisphere s summer this is known as aphelion 16. (4) The intensity and duration of insolation both increase. The date is approaching June 21 st which means that the Sun is getting higher in the sky and the rays becoming more intense. In addition, the path of the Sun is getting longer and therefore daylight hours increase as well. 17. (2) decreases Using the ESRT Properties of Earth s Atmosphere Graph on page 14, the water vapor graph indicates an inverse relationship between altitude and the amount of water vapor
18. (3) 45 o W, 9:00am Since each longitude line is 15 o and point X is 3 lines to the left of the Prime Meridian, it has to be 45 o W longitude. Since left is less, point x would be 3 hours earlier than 12:00pm (the time at the Prime Meridian). 9:00am is 3 hours earlier than noon. 19. (1) absorbs infrared heat radiation thus preventing it from escaping the Earth s atmosphere Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a greenhouse gas. Carbon dioxide, as well as the other greenhouse gases (methane, water vapor), absorb the infrared energy released by the Earth during terrestrial radiation. Extra CO2 would mean more infrared heat energy getting trapped in the atmosphere causing a rise in global temperatures. 20. (3) C Objects have the slowest orbital velocity (speed) when they are farthest to the object they are revolving around. Planet X gets farthest from Star Alpha at position C and therefore would be moving the slowest at location C. 21. (2) decrease Newton s Law of Universal gravitation states that the gravitational attraction between two objects is greatest when the objects have a large mass and are closer together. Since it is stated that the distance between Star Alpha and Planet X is increasing (the objects are getting farther apart) the gravitational attraction between them would decrease. 22. (4) Apparent diameter is defined as how big an object appears based on its distance from the observer. When objects are closer, they appear bigger; when they are farther they appear smaller. Position A is closest to Star Alpha (Star Alpha would appear largest) and position C is farthest (Star Alpha would appear smallest). The only graph that represents this information is choice 4. 23. (3) 0.324 eccentricity = distance between foci / length of the major axis e = d / L e = 1.1 / 3.4 e =.324 24. (3) convection This shows the proper circulation of air because of density differences.
25. (4) D Perihelion is when the Earth and Sun are closest together. 26. (1) 1 per day This is the rate of revolution of the Earth. Since the Earth has to revolve around the Sun in a near circular orbit, it would have to travel 360 o around the Sun. It takes 365¼ days to complete this motion. Rate of change = change in value / time = 360 o / 365¼ days = a little less than 1 o /day. (Remember: 15 o /hr is the rate of rotation) 27. (4) Different star constellations are seen from Earth at different times of the year. This is the evidence scientists used to help proved the Earth revolves. When the Earth is in different positions in its revolution around the Sun at different times of the year, we are able to see different constellations at night. 28. (3) Tray 3 (dark-colored sand which is dry) Dark colors make good absorbers, so you can narrow it down to two choices right away. Water has a high specific heat and therefore heats up slowly. When sand is wet is won t heat up as quickly. Therefore, dark, dry sand will show the greatest temperature change in 30 minutes. 29. (2) radio wave radiation ESRT page 14 Electromagnetic Spectrum Wavelength increases as you move to the right on the chart, and radio waves are the type of energy that is farthest to the right on the chart. 30. (2) Earth s orbit is less elliptical than Saturn s orbit The ESRT page 15 Solar System Data has a column on eccentricity. The only choice that is true is choice 2. Earth s orbit has an eccentricity of.017 while Saturn s eccentricity is.054. The lower the number, the less eccentric/elliptical an orbit is.
MIDTERM PRACTICE EXAM ANSWERS Base your answers on questions 31-33 on the diagram below which shows the apparent path of the Sun as viewed by an observer in New York State on March 21. Jun 21 31. At approximately what time of day would the Sun be at the location shown in the diagram? (2 points) 32. Using the Sun s present position, state the direction that the the observer would look to see his shadow. (2 points) 2:30 (±1 hour) 1 point p.m. 1 point northeast 33. On the diagram, draw the Sun s apparent path as viewed by an observer on June 21. (3 points) see diagram 34. The diagram shows an observer on Earth viewing the star Polaris. What is this observer s latitude? 52 o N (2 points) 1 point for 52 o 1 point for N 35. If the observer traveled south, what we he notice about the altitude of Polaris? (2 points) The altitude of Polaris would decrease in altitude (get lower in the sky). 36. What is the latitude and longitude of Old Forge, NY to the nearest minute. (3 points) 43 o 42 N, 74 o 55 W 1 point for directions N and W (N has to be first) 1 point for correct latitude (± 5 minutes) 1 point for correct longitude (± 5 minutes)
air pressure 37. The points below represent temperature readings ( o F) in a classroom. The dashed lines represent the location of desks in the room. Draw isolines on the map below using an interval of 2. Start with the 62 o F isoline. (8 points) 1 point for each line drawn correctly (7 lines) 1 point for following the 2 o F interval 62 64 66 63 70 65 64 68 66 68 72 70 66 66 67 70 Y. 72 73 68 X. 68 70 72 74 N 1 meter 38. Calculate the gradient between points X and Y. a. Write the Formula: gradient = change in field value / distance (1 point) b. Substitute Data: g = 72-68 o F / 3.6 m (2 points) or 1 point for correct numerator 4 o F / 3.6 m 1 point for correct distance (±.1 m) c. Solve with Correct Units: 1.11 o F / m = 1.1 o F / m (3 points) (round to tenths place) 1 point for correct math 1 point for correct units 1 point for correct rounding to tenths 39. Sketch a graph that shows the relationship between altitude and air pressure. (1 point) a. 1 point for correct line drawn (even if curved) b. As altitude increases, air pressure decreases 1 point for a correct explanation: altitude
Use the diagram to the right to answer questions 41 and 42. 41. What season is it in the Northern Hemisphere? (2 points) winter (allow only 1 point if a correct month is given) 42. Equator 12 hours (1 point) South Pole 24 hours (1 point) 43. Which planet in our Solar System has longest period of revolution? Neptune (1 point) 44. Name one month in which every day the amount of daylight hours would increase. pick any month: Jan through May (1 point) 45. Which star on the H-R diagram has the highest luminosity? Deneb (2 points) 46. Convert 51 o C to Fahrenheit. 124 o F (or 123 o F) (1 point) 47. What is the name of the process by which stars make their own energy? nuclear fusion (1 point) (or just fusion) 48. Which Earth motion is responsible for the bending of Earth s winds and ocean currents? Earth rotation (1 point)