Astronomy: Discussion Questions

Multiple Choice 1. Air may best be described as __________. a. an element b. a compound c. a mixture d. none of these 2. Which one of the following is the most abundant gas in the atmosphere? a. oxygen b. argon c. carbon dioxide d. nitrogen 3. With which of the following is dust in the atmosphere associated? a. reflection of solar energy b. optical phenomena such as a red sky at sunset c. condensation and cloud formation d. all of these 4.
The triatomic form of oxygen (O3) is known as __________. a. argon b. ozone c. chlorofluorocarbon d. molecular oxygen 9. Ozone filters out most of the __________ radiation in sunlight. a. infrared b. gamma c. ultraviolet d. microwave 10. Ozone is concentrated in the __________. a. troposphere b. mesosphere c. stratosphere d. ionosphere 11. The lowest layer of the atmosphere is the ___________. a. troposphere b. mesosphere c. stratosphere d. ionosphere 12. Practically all clouds and storms occur in this layer of the atmosphere. a. troposphere b. mesosphere c. stratosphere d.
6.5˚C c. 1.5˚C d. 9.5˚C 14. The wavelengths of radiation emitted by Earth are __________. a. longer than those emitted by the Sun b. shorter than those emitted by the Sun c. about the same as those emitted by the Sun d. none of these 15. The longest wavelengths on the electromagnetic spectrum are __________. a. gamma b. ultraviolet c. radio d. infrared 16. At noon on February 21, the Sun is overhead __________. a. at the equator b. at some point between the Tropic of Capricorn and the equator, heading southward c. at some point between the Tropic of Cancer and the equator, heading northward d. at some point between the Tropic of Capricorn and the equator, heading northward 17. The storage of heat in the lower layer of the atmosphere produced by certain heat absorbing gases is called the