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Questions and Answers
What process describes the change of a substance directly from the solid state to the gas phase?
Which term refers to the average weather conditions over a significant period of time?
What is natural ventilation primarily dependent on?
Which of the following correctly describes condensation?
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What does dry bulb temperature measure?
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Which statement correctly describes albedo?
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What determines the temperature of the Earth?
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What is relative humidity (RH)?
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What is a rainbow shadow?
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What role does convection play in the atmosphere?
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What does evaporation refer to?
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What is the range of the comfort zone for temperature as per the content?
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How much of the sun's energy that reaches the Earth is reflected back into space?
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What is the primary goal of building envelopes in relation to seasonal temperature changes?
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In which climatic zone is a compact building form favored to minimize surface area?
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What shape of roofs is typically found in hot zones to counter high temperatures?
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What does a low U-value indicate about a material?
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How do windbreaks primarily impact surrounding air conditions?
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Which insulation measure resists the conductive flow of heat more effectively?
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What is referred to as a 'thermal bridge' in building construction?
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What is the main characteristic of building shapes in hot humid zones?
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What can be a direct impact of proper passive conditioning in building design?
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What climatic effect causes elongated building shapes primarily in the east-west direction?
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Study Notes
Earth's Tilt and Rotation
- Earth's tilt and rotation influence how the Sun's energy is received, leading to varying temperatures on different parts of the Earth.
- The Earth's tilt is responsible for seasons, with different hemispheres receiving varying amounts of solar energy.
- Albedo is the reflectivity of a surface, with different environments absorbing and reflecting varying amounts of solar energy.
- Earth's temperature is determined by the balance between energy received from the Sun and energy lost back into space.
Atmosphere
- The atmosphere is primarily composed of water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide.
- It absorbs approximately 50% of the solar energy that reaches the Earth, warming the surface.
- The remaining 33% of solar energy is reflected back into space.
- The greenhouse effect is caused by the absorption and re-emission of heat energy from the Sun by certain atmospheric gases, leading to warming of the Earth’s surface.
Energy Terms
- A Joule is the unit of energy, representing the amount of work done when a force of one newton displaces a mass through one meter.
- A Watt is the unit of power, equaling one joule per second.
Comfort Zone
- Ideal environmental conditions for humans are within a narrow range of temperature and humidity.
- The comfort zone for temperature is between 20°C and 26°C.
- The comfort zone for relative humidity is between 20% and 75%.
Water and Precipitation Terms
- Humidity is the amount of water vapor in the air.
- Relative Humidity (RH) is the percentage of water vapor present in the air compared to the maximum possible at that temperature and pressure.
- A rainbow shadow is a dry area on the leeward side of a mountain system caused by the rain shadow effect.
Convection
- Convection is the movement of fluids caused by differences in density due to temperature variations.
- Hotter, less dense fluids rise, while colder, denser fluids sink, resulting in heat transfer.
Water Cycle Terms
- Evaporation is the change of a liquid to a gas on the surface.
- Condensation is the change of a gas to a liquid.
- Transpiration is the movement of water through a plant followed by its evaporation from leaves, stems, and flowers.
- Sublimation is the transition of a substance directly from a solid to a gas.
- Melting is the transition of a substance from a solid to a liquid.
Wind and Environment
- Weather refers to the state of the atmosphere at a specific time and place, including temperature, pressure, wind, humidity, precipitation, and cloud cover.
- Climate is the long-term average weather patterns of a region.
- Dry bulb temperature is the air temperature measured by a thermometer.
- Microclimate is the variation of climate over a small scale.
- Relative humidity is the amount of water vapor present in the air expressed as a percentage of the amount needed for saturation at the same temperature.
Wind Flow
Building Shell
- Positive pressure occurs when the pressure inside a building is greater than the surrounding environment.
- Negative pressure occurs when the pressure inside a building is lower than the surrounding environment.
Interior Space
- Natural ventilation refers to the movement of air into and out of a building without the use of mechanical systems.
- Pressure differences and temperature differences drive natural ventilation.
Optimum Shape
- An optimum building shape minimizes heat loss in winter and heat gain in summer, adapting to seasonal changes.
Building in Response to Climate Conditions
- Low temperatures encourage compact building forms to minimize surface area.
- High radiation impacts tend to elongate building shapes in an east-west direction.
Built From Climatic Trends
Cool Zone
- Winter temperatures are more influential than solar heat, leading to compressed building forms.
Temperature Zone
- Flexible building plans are possible due to more moderate temperature ranges, allowing for maximum frontages and cross patterns.
Hot Arid Zone
- Thermal stress favors compressed, squared shapes. Gardens can create desirable microclimates.
Hot-Humid Zones
- East and West facades receive significant solar radiation, often favoring slender, elongated structures with shading.
Wind Breaks
- Wind breaks act as barriers that divert air currents upwards, creating a zone of relative calm on the leeward side.
- Wind breaks impact wind force, air temperature, air humidity, evaporation rates, and snowdrift formation.
Wind Break Form Impacts
- Shape and height significantly influence the effectiveness of a wind break.
Wind Shadow
- Wind shadows are sheltered, windless areas created by windbreaks.
- The windward side is upwind from the point of reference.
- The leeward side is downwind from the diversion point.
Materials and Thermal Comfort
Roof Trend
- Roof forms are influenced by regional climates.
- Flat roofs are common in hot zones.
- Vaulted roofs are found in dry areas.
- Inclined roofs are prevalent in temperature climates with dry summers.
- Higher roofs are used in wet, temperate, and cooler regions.
Building Envelope
- The building envelope consists of walls, roofs, and floors, separating the building's interior from the exterior.
- The goal of a building envelope is to minimize heat loss in winter and heat gain in summer.
Envelope Terms
- Conduction is the transfer of heat energy through direct contact between objects of different temperatures.
- Insulation reduces heat transfer by slowing down the flow of heat through materials.
- A thermal bridge is an area or component with higher thermal conductivity than surrounding materials.
Insulation Terms
- U-value measures the rate of heat transfer through a material (lower values indicate better insulation).
- R-value measures the resistance to conductive heat flow through a two-dimensional barrier (higher values indicate better insulation).
Passive Conditioning
- Passive conditioning uses building features to take advantage of natural systems to achieve comfortable indoor conditions.
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Description
Explore the impact of Earth's tilt and rotation on temperature variations and seasons. Understand the composition of the atmosphere and its role in energy absorption and greenhouse effect. This quiz delves into how these factors interact to influence Earth's climate.
