PO2: Earth’s Atmosphere Supports and Protects Life
1. Gio and Gary are hiking up a mountain. Gary is at the top and Gio is at the bottom. Which has less
air pressure pushing down on them?
a. Gio
b. Gary
c. They both have the same amount of air pushing on them.
d. There is not enough information to answer this problem
2. Why does hot air rise and cold air sink?
a. Hot air is less dense than cold air
b. Hot air is more dense than cold air
c. Hot air contains more hydrogen
d. Cold air is less dense than hot air
3. Wind is a result of:
a. Differences in air pressure
b. Differences in altitude
c. Mountains
d. Colder temperatures
4. Low pressure systems lead to :
a. Sunny and hot weather because low pressure is caused my warm air rising
b. Stormy weather because low pressure is caused my air sinking lower and condensing into
clouds
c. Cold weather because low pressure is also associated with snow
d. Clear skies because sinking air warms up and evaporates
5. A warm air mass pushes over a cold air mass. What type of front will form and why will it form?
a. A cold front because cold air is less dense than a warm front
b. A warm front because warm air is less dense and will pass over the dense cold front
c. A warm front because warm air is more dense than cold air
d. A stationary front because both cold air and warm air have the same density
Air masses are named based on two things: if they formed over ocean or land and if they formed near the
equator or the poles.
Wind moves air masses to new places. Air masses bring with them the temperature and moisture of the
area where they formed.
OCEAN: Maritime  moist or humid
LAND: Continental  Dry
EQUATOR: Tropical  Hot
POLES: Polar  Cold
1. Name the following air masses:
Forms over land, near equator: ______________________
Forms over ocean, near poles: ______________________
________________________
________________________
2. A continental, polar air masses moves into Charlotte. What weather will the air mass likely bring?
3. Why are maritime tropical air masses moist and warm?
4. A warm air mass pushes over a cold air mass. What type of front will form and why will it form?
a.
b.
c.
d.
A cold front because cold air is less dense than a warm front
A warm front because warm air is less dense and will pass over the dense cold front
A warm front because warm air is more dense than cold air
A stationary front because both cold air and warm air have the same density
Explain your answer: ________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.