Earth Science Quiz: Atmosphere and Orbit

Air is a mix of gases and particles, each with unique properties.

Nitrogen (78%), Oxygen (21%), and Argon (0.9%), along with trace amounts of other gases constitute the majority of air.

Water vapor is essential for clouds and precipitation. It absorbs heat from the Earth and the sun.

Ozone absorbs harmful UV radiation from the sun, protecting life on Earth.

Vehicles emit significant pollutants such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and volatile organics.

Earth spinning on its axis, taking approximately 24 hours.

Earth's axis is tilted at 23.5 degrees relative to its orbital plane.

Earth orbiting the Sun, taking approximately 365.25 days.

An extra day added to the calendar every four years to account for the extra 0.25 days in a year.

Earth rotates counter-clockwise.

Earth's path around the Sun, slightly elliptical.

Closest point to the Sun in Earth's orbit.

Farthest point from the Sun in Earth's orbit.

Earth's equator projected onto the celestial sphere.

Path of Earth's orbit projected onto the sky.

The Earth's tilt and its revolution around the sun cause the seasons.

Sunlight spread out over a larger area, resulting in less heating.

Sunlight concentrated over a smaller area, resulting in greater heating.

The Earth's axis is tilted 23.5 degrees relative to its orbital plane around the sun.

The Earth's yearly orbit around the sun, affecting the angle of sunlight.

Occurs on March 21st, daylight and night are equal.

Occurs on September 21st, daylight and night are equal.

Equal night; daylight and nighttime are of equal length.

Sunlight strikes the Earth most directly at the equator during an equinox.

An imaginary line around the Earth, halfway between the North and South Poles.

Earth's axis tilt points directly towards or away from the sun, causing the longest or shortest day of the year.

Water vapor changing into liquid water.

Solid changing directly to gas without becoming liquid.

Longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere (around June 21st).

Heat released when water vapor turns into liquid.

Shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere (around December 21st).

Equal day and night (approximately 12 hours each) occurring twice a year.

Amount of water vapor in the air.

How much water vapor air holds compared to max it can hold.

Equinox marking the beginning of spring (around March 21st).

Water exists as a solid (ice), liquid, and gas (water vapor).

The continuous process of water changing states between solid, liquid, and gas.

Energy stored in water during a change of state, not released as heat during the change.

The process of liquid water turning into water vapor.

The energy needed for liquid water to change to a gas (water vapor).