Bartleby Sitemap - Textbook Solutions
All Textbook Solutions for Conceptual Physical Science Explorations
17RQ18RQ19RQ20RQ1TE2TEIn a confined aquifer, the water in a well can rise above the top of the aquifer. What is this system called?4TE5TEWhat happens to stream speed if the discharge in a stream doubles while the channel remains the same size and shape?What three variables influence the speed of stream flow?8TEIn the formation of a river delta, why are larger particles deposited first, followed by smaller particles farther out?10TE11TE12TE13TE14TE15TE16TEWhat happens to stream speed if discharge doubles and the cross-sectional area of the stream channel also doubles?18TE19TE20TE1TSA particular stream widens as it progresses downstream. Using your answers for part (a) and (b), briefly describe the changes in discharge. (a) If the cross-sectional area of the stream is 1m2 and the stream speed is 0.5m/s , what is the streams discharge? (b) If the cross-sectional area of the stream is 2m2 and the stream speed is 0.5m/s , what is the streams discharge?If the water table at location X is lower than the water table at location Y, does groundwater flow from X to Y or from Y to X?As a stream moves from a location where gradient is steep to where it is more level, its speed tends to (a) become turbulent. (b) meander. (c) decrease. (d) increase.2RATThe work of surface water does all of the following except (a) erosion. (b) deposition. (c) land subsidence. (d) delta formation.The maximum amount of water a particular soil can hold is determined by its (a) porosity (b) permeability. (c) degree of saturation. (d) amount of recharge.5RATSand dunes form as wind (a) disperses sand. (b) blows sand from the back to the front of the dune. (c) blows sand from the front to the back of the dune. (d) interrupts the normal sequence of deposition.7RAT8RATSnow converts to glacial ice when subjected to (a) decreasing temperature. (b) pressure. (c) rain. (d) basal sliding.Underground water in the saturated zone is called (a) groundwater. (b) soil moisture. (c) the water table. (d) an artesian system.1RQA granitic dike is found across a sandstone layer. What can be said about the relative ages of the dike and the sandstone? What principle applies here?How are fossils used in determining geologic time?In a sequence of sedimentary rock layers, the oldest layer is on the bottom and the youngest layer is at the top. What relative dating principle is this?What is radioactive half-life?What are the half-lives of uranium-238, potassium-40 and carbon-14?Which of the geologic time units spans the greatest length of time?8RQ9RQ10RQ11RQWhy are the lobe-finned fishes significant?13RQWhat animals group evolved from the amphibians with the arrival of the amniote egg?15RQ16RQWhat evidence supports the meteorite impact at the end of the cretaceous?Which epochs make up the tertiary period? The Quaternary period?19RQ20RQWhat six principles are used in relative dating?Why dont all rock formations show a continuous sequence from the beginning of time to the present?3TE4TE5TEWhat was the most noteworthy evidence of life in the Precambrian?7TEWhy are internal nostrils in the lobe-finned fishes an important step in the evolution of life on Earth?What time period is associated with coal deposits?10TE11TEHow does the element iridium relate to the time of the extinction of the dinosaurs?Suppose you see a sequence of sedimentary rock layers covered by a basalt flow. A fault cuts through the sedimentary rock layers but does not cut into the basalt. Relate the fault to the ages of the two rock types in the formation.If a sedimentary rock contains inclusions of metamorphic rock, which rock is older?Which isotopes are most appropriate for dating rocks from early Precambrian time? How about the late Pleistocene epoch?Before the discovery of radioactivity, how did geologists estimate the age of rock layers?17TE18TE19TE20TEThe principle of superposition is that each new (a) sedimentary layer is older than the layer above. (b) sedimentary layer is younger than the layer below. (c) layer of sediment is laid down nearly horizontally. (d) layer of sediment is laid down accordingly.Life forms throughout Earths past have occurred in a definite order. This is called the principle of (a) fossil assemblage. (b) faunal succession. (c) conformable fossils. (d) fossil determination.The time it takes for 50 of a radioactive substance to decay is known as (a) radiometric dating. (b) carbon-14. (c) the proportion of atoms remaining. (d) the half-life.Development of Earths ocean was likely due to (a) water-rich meteors bombarding on Earth surface. (b) volcanic outgassing, followed by cooler temperatures in Precambrian time. (c) slow convection in the mantle. (d) volcanic outgassing in the early Paleozoic.5RAT6RAT7RATThe formation of the supercontinent Pangaea (a) resulted from the collision of all major landmasses. (b) produced widespread mountains building in the Himalayas. (c) resulted in extensive volcanic activity and flood basalts. (d) All of these.9RAT10RATWhy do we have moderate temperatures on lands bordering the oceans?Earths present atmosphere likely developed from gases that escaped from its interior during volcanic eruptions. What two principal atmospheric gases were produced by these eruptions?What elements make up todays atmosphere?Why doesnt gravity flatten the atmosphere against Earths surface?In which atmospheric layer does all our weather occur?Does temperature increase or decrease as one moves upward in the troposphere? As one moves upward in the stratosphere?What does the angle at which sunlight strikes Earth have to do with temperate and polar regions?What does Earths tilt have to do with the change of seasons?How does radiation emitted from Earth differ from that emitted by the Sun?How is the atmosphere near Earths surface heated from below?What is the underlying cause of air motion?What causes pressure difference to arise and hence causes the wind to blow?In what direction does Earth spin-west to east or east to west?What does the Coriolis force do to winds? To ocean currents?Why are most of the worlds deserts found in the area known as the horse latitudes?Why are the eastbound aircraft flights usually faster than westbound ones?17RQ18RQWhy are all tides greatest at the time of a full or new Moon?When would the highest high tide occur: during a spring tide or a neap tide?Earth is closest to the Sun in January, but January is cold in the Northern Hemisphere. Why?If the composition of the upper atmosphere were changed so that it permitted a greater amount of terrestrial radiation to escape, what effect would this have on Earths average temperature?If the composition of the upper atmosphere were changed so that it permitted a less terrestrial radiation to escape, what effect would this have on Earths average temperature?Why is it important that mountain climbers wear sunglass and use sunblock even when the temperature is below freezing?5TE6TEHow do the total number of hours of sunlight in a year compare for equatorial regions and polar regions of Earth? Why are polar regions so much colder?Why are temperature fluctuations greater over land than over water? Explain.Because seawater does not freeze easily, sea ice never gets very thick. So from where do large icebergs originates?10TEHow does the ocean influence weather on land?12TE13TEAs ocean waves approach shallow water, those with longer wavelengths slow down those before with shorter wavelengths do. Why?With respect to spring and neap ocean tides, when are the lowest tides? That is, when is it best for digging calms?If Earth were not spinning, in what direction would the surface winds blow where you live? In what direction does it actually blow on Earth at 15S latitude and why?Why is the thermosphere so much hotter than the mesosphere?18TEIf it is winter and January in Chicago, What are the corresponding season and month in Sydney, Australia?What causes the fiery display of light called the auroras?1RATWhen compared to lands far from the oceans, lands that border the oceans tend to have (a) extreme seasonal variations. (b) small seasonal variations. (c) wet and cold winters. (d) dry, hot summers.Which pulls with the greater force on the Earths oceans? (a) The Sun. (b) The Moon. (c) Both the Sun and the Moon; they have equal force. (d) There is no force.Air motion is greatly influenced by (a) pressure differences. (b) temperature differences. (c) the Coriolis force. (d) All of the above.Ocean tides are caused by the differences in the (a) gravitational pull of the Sun on opposite sides of Earth. (b) force of the moon. (c) gravitational pull of the Moon on opposite. (d) distance of the Sun from the Moon.6RATThe wind blows in response to (a) frictional drag. (b) Earths rotation. (c) pressure differences. (d) moisture differences.8RAT9RATThe ultimate cause of ocean surface currents is (a) divergence in equatorial regions. (b) the gradient between the doldrums and the horse latitudes. (c) density contrasts. (d) frictional drag by prevailing winds.What is the difference between humidity and relative humidity?Why does relative humidity increase at night?As air temperature decreases, does relative humidity increases, decreases, or stay the same?What does saturation point have to do with dew point?What happened to the water vapor in saturated air as the air cools?6RQWhen a parcel of air rises, does it become warmer, become cooler, or remain at the same temperature?When does an adiabatic process happen in the atmosphere?9RQ10RQ11RQ12RQ13RQ14RQ15RQ16RQWhat are the three main atmospheric lifting mechanisms?18RQ19RQ20RQ1TEWhen water vapor condenses to liquid water, is heat absorbed or released?3TEWhy does warm, moist air blowing over cold water result in fog?5TEIn simplest terms, what is an occluded front?Why are saturation and condensation more likely to occur on a cold day than on a warm day?Why does surface temperature increase on a clear, calm night as a low cloud cover moves overhead?9TE10TE11TE12TE13TE14TE15TE16TE17TEIn which atmospheric layer does all our weather occur?19TEWhat is the source of the enormous amount of energy released by a hurricane?1RATFast-moving air molecules have (a) greater kinetic energy. (b) greater molecular collisions. (c) warmer temperatures. (d) All of these.3RAT4RATWhen upper regions of the atmosphere are warmer than lower regions we have (a) convective lifting. (b) a temperature inversion. (c) absolute instability. (d) an adiabatic process.A key factor needed for precipitation to occur is (a) updraft motion is relatively thick clouds. (b) a condensation rate that exceeds the evaporation rate. (c) condensation nuclei. (d) All of these.For clouds to form, air must be lifted. The principal lifting mechanisms are (a) convectional, orographic, and frontal lifting. (b) continental, orogeny, and occluded lifting. (c) conversational. Orthodontic, and face lifting. (d) stationary, occluded, and contact lifting.As air temperature decreases, relative humidity (a) increases. (b) decreases. (c) stays the same. (d) None of these.9RAT10RATHow many known planets are in our solar system?What plutoid was downgraded from planetary status in 2006?How are the outer planets are different from the inner planets aside from their location?Why does a nebula spin faster as it contracts?According to nebular theory, did the planets start before or after Sun ignited?What happens to the amount of the Suns mass as it burns?What are sunspots?8RQWhy are days on Mercury very hot and nights very cold?What two planets are evening or morning stars?What gas makes the most of the Martian atmosphere?What main feature do the outer planets have in common?How tilted is Uranuss axis?Why is Neptune bluer than the Uranus?Why does the Moon have no atmosphere?.Where are the Sun and Moon located at the time of a new moon?Why dont eclipses occur monthly or nearly monthly?Between the orbits of what two planets is the asteroid belt located?What is the difference between a meteor and meteorite?20RQRank the following in order of increasing mass: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars.Rank the following in order of increasing distance from the Sun: the outer planets, the Kuiper belt, the Oort cloud.Rank the following in order of increasing density: Earth, Saturn, Pluto.Rank the following in order of increasing volume: Jupiter, Earth, the Sun.Rank the following in order of increasing density: the core of the Jupiter, the core of the Earth, the core of the Sun.According to nebular theory, what happens to a nebula as it contracts under the force of gravity?2TEWhat energy processes make the Sun shine? In what sense can it be said that gravity is the prime source of solar energy?The greenhouse effect is very pronounced on Venus but doesnt exist on Mercury. Why?What does Jupiter have in common with the Sun that the terrestrial planets dont? What differentiates Jupiter from a star?Why are the seasons on Uranus different from the seasons on any other planet?Why are many craters evident on the surface of the Moon but not on the surface of Earth?Is the fact that we see only one side of the Moon evidence that Moon spins or that it doesnt? Defend your answer.If we never see the back side of the Moon, would an observer on the back side of the Moon ever see Earth?In what alignment of Sun, Moon and Earth does a solar eclipse occur?In what alignment of Sun, Moon and Earth does a lunar eclipse occur?What does the Moon have common with a compass needle?If you were on Moon and you looked up and saw a full Earth, would it be nighttime or daytime on the Moon?If you were on the Moon and you looked up and saw a new Earth, would it be nighttime or daytime on the Moon?Do astronomers make stellar observations during the full Moon part of the month or during the new Moon part of the month? Does it make difference?Nearly everybody has witnessed a lunar eclipse, but relatively few people have seen a solar eclipse. Why?Why are meteorites so much more easily found on Antarctica than on other continents?What would be the consequences of a comets tail sweeping across Earth?In terms of the conservation of mass, describe why comets eventually burn out.Knowing that the speed of light is 300,000km/s, show that it takes about 8minutes for sunlight to reach Earth.How many days does sunlight take to travel the 50,000AU from the sun to the outer reaches of the Oort cloud?The light-year is a standard unit of distance used by astronomers. It is the distance light travels in 1Earthyear. In units of light-years, what is the approximate diameter of our solar system including the outer reaches of the Oort cloud.? (Assume that one light year equals 63,000AU.)1RATThe solar system is like an atom in that both (a) are governed principally through the electric force. (b) consist of a central body surrounded by objects moving in elliptical paths. (c) are composed of plasma. (d) are mainly empty space.The nebular theory is based upon the observation that the solar system (a) is highly ordered, indicating it formed in a stepwise manner from physical processes. (b) has a structure much like an atom. (c) is highly complex and appears to have been built by chaotic processes. (d) appears to be very old.Where is the Sun located when you view a full Moon? (a) Directly in back of you. (b) Directly in front of you. (c) To your right. (d) The Sun could be anywhere.5RATWhat evidence tells us that Mars was at one time wetter than it presently is? (a) The frozen polar ice caps. (b) Recorded history that Mars was once blue. (c) Dried-up ocean beds and river channels. (d) A halo of water vapor in orbit around the planet.When the Moon assumes its characteristic thin crescent shape, the position of the Sun is (a) almost directly in back of the Moon. (b) almost directly behind Earth, so that Earth is between the Sun and the Moon. (c) at right angles to the line between the Moon and Earth.When the Sun passes between the Moon and Earth, we have (a) a lunar eclipse. (b) a solar eclipse. (c) met our endAsteroids orbit the (a) Moon. (b) Earth. (c) Sun. (d) All of the above. (e) None of the above.With each pass of a comet about the Sun, the comets mass (a) remains virtually unchanged. (b) actually increases. (c) is appreciably reduced.What are constellations?Why does an observer at a given location see one set of constellations in the winter and a different set of constellations in the summer?3RQIs the light-year a measurement of time or distance?5RQ6RQWhat is a H-R diagram?8RQ9RQ10RQ11RQWhat causes a star to contract inwards?13RQ14RQ15RQ16RQ17RQWhy do we not think the Sun will eventually became a black hole?How does the mass of a star before its collapse compare with the mass of the black hole that it becomes?If black holes are invisible, what is the evidence for their existence?1TC2TC3TC4TC5TC1TEOn the Moon, stars other than the Sun can be seen during the daytime. Why?We see the constellations as distinct groups of stars. Discuss why they would look entirely different from some other location in the universe, far distant from the Earth.4TEIf you were to travel to the north pole, where in the sky would you find Polaris, the North Star?What is relationship between white drawf and nova?What event marks the birth of a star?8TE9TE10TE11TE12TE13TE14TE15TE16TE17TE18TE19TE20TESummer and winter constellations are different because (a) of the spin of the Earth about its polar axis. (b) the night sky faces in opposite directions in summer and winter. (c) of the tilt of Earth's polar axis. (d) the universe is symmetric and harmonious.2RATThe star nearest Earth is (a) Alpha Centauri. (b) Polaris. (c) Mercury. (d) the Sun.4RAT5RAT6RAT7RAT8RAT9RATA black hole is (a) an empty region of space with a huge gravitational field. (b) a small region that has the mass of many galaxies. (c) the remains of a supergiant collapsed star. (d) as large as its photon sphere.1RQ