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Instructor: Prof. Seiberling
PHYSICS DEPARTMENT
MET 1010
1st Midterm Exam
Name (print, last ¯rst):
Sept. 22, 2003
Signature:
On my honor, I have neither given nor received unauthorized aid on this examination.
YOUR TEST NUMBER IS THE 5-DIGIT NUMBER AT THE TOP OF EACH PAGE.
(1) Code your test number on your answer sheet (use 76{80 for the 5-digit number). Code your name on your
answer sheet. DARKEN CIRCLES COMPLETELY. Code your UFID number on your answer sheet.
(2) Print your name on this sheet and sign it also.
(3) Do all scratch work anywhere on this exam that you like. At the end of the test, this exam printout is to be turned in.
No credit will be given without both answer sheet and printout with scratch work most questions demand.
(4) Blacken the circle of your intended answer completely, using a #2 pencil or blue or black ink. Do not make
any stray marks or the answer sheet may not read properly. If you believe there is no correct answer listed, leave the
answer spaces blank.
(5) The answers are rounded o®. Choose the closest to exact. There is no penalty for guessing.
>>>>>>>>WHEN YOU FINISH <<<<<<<<
Hand in the answer sheet separately.
There are 33 multiple choice questions. Clearly circle the one best answer for each question. If more than one answer is
marked, no credit will be given for that question, even if one of the marked answers is correct. Guessing an answer is better
than leaving it blank. All questions are worth 3 points, except for one question, which is worth 4 points. The 4-point question
is clearly indicated. Good Luck!
1. What is NOT true of polar-orbiting satellites?
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
they
they
they
they
they
generally have a higher altitude orbit than geostationary satellites
travel on a north-south path while the earth rotates beneath them
closely parallel the earths meridian lines
can provide close-up shots of the polar regions
can get detailed photographs of any location on the earth
2. Which process below would tend to reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO 2 )?
(1) photosynthesis (2) burning of fossil fuels (3) decay of vegetation (4) exhalations of animals (5) volcanic eruptions
3. Low, gray, sheetlike clouds from which a light rain is falling are called:
(1) nimbostratus
(2) altocumulus
(3) cirrostratus
(4) cirrus
(5) cumulonimbus
4. Dispersion refers to:
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
the
the
the
the
the
preferential re°ection of light depending on wavelength
fact that light spreads out when passing through a small slit
fact that di®erent colors of light are selectively scattered by air molecules
fact that light passing through a medium of graded density will follow a parabolic path
dependence of the angle of refraction on the wavelength of light
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5. (4 points) Describe the path of the sun in Christchurch, New Zealand (latitude 45 ± S) on June 21.
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
it
it
it
it
it
rises
rises
rises
rises
rises
in
in
in
in
in
the
the
the
the
the
SE and peaks at about 22± above the northern horizon at noon
SE and peaks at about 22± above the southern horizon at noon
SE and peaks at about 68± above the southern horizon at noon
NE and peaks at about 68 ± above the northern horizon at noon
NE and peaks at about 22 ± above the northern horizon at noon
6. The fog that forms when you breathe out on a cold day is:
(1) acid fog
(2) radiation fog
(3) advection fog
(4) ice fog
(5) evaporation (mixing) fog
7. When the mean daily temperature climbs above 65± F, people begin to use air conditioning. How many cooling degree-days
are accrued during a 5 day period during which the overnight low is 70 ± F and the daytime high is 90 ± F each day?
(1) 65
(2) 55
(3) 60
(4) 75
(5) 70
8. The air temperatures in New Orleans (on the Gulf of Mexico) and in San Diego (in southern California) are both 95± F
on a typical summer day. Which statement is most true?
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
people sweat more in New Orleans, so they stay cooler
the heat index is higher in New Orleans
the air in San Diego contains more actual water vapor
the humidity in New Orleans makes the hot air more comfortable
the wet bulb temperature in New Orleans is lower
9. An open beaker of water is placed in a chamber that can be evacuated with a vacuum pump. The water is maintained at
a temperature of 30± C. When the pump is turned on and the pressure over the water starts to drop, at what pressure
will the water start to boil? (see Figure)
(1) the water will not boil at 30± C
(2) 87 mb
(3) 42 mb
(4) 100 mb
(5) 13 mb
10. When frozen water (ice) becomes liquid water:
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
latent heat of
heat capacity
latent heat of
latent heat of
latent heat of
evaporation is released to the environment
is released to the environment
melting is released to the environment
evaporation is absorbed from the environment
melting is absorbed from the environment
11. A beaker with some water in it is sealed with a lid. The beaker and water are in equilibrium at a temperature of 25 ± C.
What is the water vapor pressure in the air above the water? (see Figure)
(1) 13 mb
(2) 42 mb
(3) 0 mb
(4) 32 mb
(5) 100 mb
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12. What is the primary reason the earth has seasons?
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
one side of the sun is brighter than the other
the earth is closer to the sun in January
the axis of rotation of the earth is tilted
the axis of rotation of the sun is tilted
the output of the sun varies annually
13. The relative humidity is typically highest around:
(1) 6:00 am
(2) midnight
(3) noon
(4) 6:00 pm
(5) 2:00 pm
14. About how much would a column of air weigh that reached from sea level to the top of the atmosphere and was 1 square
inch in cross section?
(1) 54 lbs
(2) 112 lbs
(3) 0.2 lbs
(4) 15 lbs
(5) 32 lbs
15. An anvil top is associated with which type of cloud?
(1) altostratus
(2) stratocumulus
(3) cumulonimbus
(4) cirrus
(5) cirrocumulus
16. Which of the things listed below would have the highest albedo?
(1) an ideal blackbody
(2) green trees
(3) the ocean
17. The e®ects most responsible for a rainbow are:
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
Mie scattering and formation of crepuscular rays
dispersion and total internal re°ection
transmission and dispersion
selective re°ection and refraction
refraction and selective scattering
18. Greenhouse gases:
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
transmit
transmit
transmit
transmit
transmit
ultraviolet radiation and absorb visible radiation
visible radiation and absorb infrared radiation
visible radiation and absorb ultraviolet radiation
infrared radiation and absorb ultraviolet radiation
infrared radiation and absorb visible radiation
19. The largest daily range of temperature occurs:
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
near the ground in the desert
near the ground in a city by the ocean
about 30 meters above the ground in the desert
about 15 meters above the ground in the tropics
about 30 meters above the ground in a city on a large lake
(4) a plowed ¯eld
(5) snow
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20. A 500 gram sample of water and a 1 kg block of granite have heat capacities of 500 Cal/ ± C and 190 Cal/± C, respectively.
If an amount of heat, Q, is absorbed by the water, its temperature rises by 19 ± C. If the same amount of heat, Q, is
absorbed by the granite, by how much will the temperature of the granite rise?
(1) 200± C
(2) 5 ± C
(3) 25 ± C
(4) 50± C
(5) 100 ± C
21. A parcel of air has a dew point temperature of 17± C and an actual temperature of 30 ± C. What is the relative humidity
of the air inside the parcel ? (see Figure)
(1) 40%
(2) 20%
(3) 10%
(4) 30%
(5) 50%
22. Certain stars in our galaxy appear reddish in color because:
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
they
they
they
they
they
have
have
have
have
have
a
a
a
a
a
surface made up of materials that preferentially absorb red light
surface made up of materials that preferentially re°ect red light
very high albedo
surface temperature that is hotter than our sun
surface temperature that is cooler than our sun
23. Which is NOT a control of temperature?
(1) latitude
(2) land and water distribution
(3) the orientation of your house
(4) ocean currents
(5) elevation
24. People see an oasis of water some distance ahead in a hot desert because:
(1) hot sand acts as a mirror and specular re°ection causes the sky to appear in the sand
(2) light scattered at very glancing angles always appears blue
(3) selective scattering of blue light by sand grains occurs because the grains are large compared to the wavelength of
light
(4) of refraction through layers of air that decrease in density toward the hot sand
(5) dispersion causes blue light to be preferentially refracted upward
25. Hygroscopic nuclei:
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
attract water even below 100% relative humidity
are nuclei composed entirely of ice
is another name for the nucleus of hydrogen atoms
repel water even when the air is supersaturated
are the smallest condensation nuclei
26. In Stockholm, Sweden (latitude 60 ± N), summer days are
(1) longer, longer
(2) longer, shorter
and winter days are
(3) day lengths are the same
than in Gainesville.
(4) shorter, shorter
(5) shorter, longer
27. What gas is considered a pollutant on the surface of the earth, but bene¯cial in the stratosphere?
(1) ozone
(2) nitrous oxide
(3) chloro°uorocarbons
(4) carbon dioxide
(5) methane
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28. High, wispy clouds composed mostly of ice crystals are:
(1) cumulonimbus
(2) cirrus
(3) altocumulus
(4) stratus
(5) nimbostratus
29. An iron skillet is on a burner. You touch the iron handle of the skillet and it burns your hand. The handle became hot
primarily by:
(1) convection
(2) conduction
(3) radiation
(4) heat capacity
(5) latent heat
30. An instrument that measures humidity is called a (an):
(1) Doppler sponge
(2) radiometer
(3) aerovane
(4) Kelvinometer
(5) hygrometer
31. In Denver, the atmospheric pressure is 850 mb. What fraction of the atmosphere's molecules would be below you in
Denver?
(1) 15%
(2) 50%
(3) 85%
(4) 25%
(5) 1.5%
32. Which statement is true about the atmospheric layers?
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
most of the weather that we experience occurs in the stratosphere
ozone is the most abundant gas in the stratosphere
oxygen is the most abundant gas in the troposphere
The troposphere gets cooler and the stratosphere gets warmer with altitude
carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) now makes up a few percent of the atmosphere
33. Mars appears red because:
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
rocks on the surface of Mars preferentially absorb red sunlight
rocks on the surface of Mars preferentially absorb sunlight that is not red
Mars does not really appear red, that is just an old husbands tale
rocks on the surface of Mars have a very high albedo
rocks on the surface of Mars emit radiation that peaks in the red part of the visible spectrum
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