30 Questions
Why do sunrise and sunset occur at different times at different places?
Because the Earth rotates from west to east
What is the shape of the Earth?
An oblate spheroid
What is the reason for the signal not being received beyond a certain horizon?
The Earth's curvature causes the signal to bend away
Why do people in the east see the sun earlier than those in the west?
Because the Earth rotates from west to east
What is the difference in diameter between the Equator and the Poles?
42 km
What causes the bulge at the Equator and the compression at the Poles?
The Earth's rotation at a great speed
What is the primary reason why the earth's surface remains fairly cool during the day?
Water bodies rapidly absorb enormous amounts of heat
What is the primary conclusion drawn from the Bedford level experiment?
The Earth is spherical in shape
What percentage of the atmosphere is approximately composed of free nitrogen?
78%
How do plants obtain nitrogen from the soil?
In the form of nitrates
What is the primary function of the soil layer in the lithosphere?
To provide nutrients necessary for plant growth
What is the angle of the Pole Star at the Equator?
0°
What is the approximate thickness of the biosphere?
15 km
What shape is the shadow of the Earth on the surface of the moon during a lunar eclipse?
Circular
What is the purpose of oxygen in the bodies of living things?
To release energy and build new molecules
How is oxygen released back into the atmosphere?
During photosynthesis by green plants
What would occur if the earth did not have a large amount of water?
There would be greater day and night temperature variations
What happens to the horizon as the altitude increases?
It widens
What is the primary component of the hydrosphere that helps regulate the earth's temperature?
Water bodies
What is the term for the trapping of the sun's radiation by gases present in the lower atmosphere?
Greenhouse Effect
What is the reason for the Pole Star having different angles at different latitudes?
The Earth is spherical in shape
What is the shape of the Earth's surface as seen from a height?
Circular
What is the biosphere responsible for providing to all species on earth?
Light, heat, water, food, and habitats
What is the primary purpose of the carbon cycle?
To maintain carbon balance in nature
What is the process by which green plants make their own food using sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water?
Photosynthesis
During which process is CO2 fixed as starch by plants?
Photosynthesis
What happens to the carbon present in the bodies of plants and animals after they die?
It is decomposed and absorbed by saprophytic bacteria and fungi
What is the ultimate source of carbon in fossil fuels?
Green plants through photosynthesis
What is the result of an imbalance of carbon in the atmosphere?
Global Warming
Which of the following is NOT a part of the carbon cycle?
Fermentation
Study Notes
Carbon Cycle
- Plants take in CO2 from the atmosphere through photosynthesis and convert it into starch
- Carbon moves through the food chain from plants to consumers
- After death, carbon is decomposed and absorbed by saprophytic bacteria and fungi
- Carbon is returned to the atmosphere through respiration, decomposition, and burning of fuels
- The carbon cycle maintains carbon balance in nature, and imbalance leads to global warming
Shape of the Earth
- The Earth is an oblate spheroid, with a diameter of 12,756 km at the Equator and 12,714 km at the Poles
- The difference in diameter is due to centrifugal force from the Earth's rotation
- The Earth's shape can be demonstrated through:
- Sunrise and sunset occurring at different times at different places
- Ships disappearing from view as they sail away
- The appearance of the horizon as circular and widening with altitude
- The shadow of the Earth on the moon during a lunar eclipse being circular
- The Pole Star appearing at different angles depending on latitude
Atmosphere, Lithosphere, Hydrosphere, and Biosphere
- The atmosphere is the layer of gases surrounding the Earth
- The lithosphere is the solid crust of the Earth, providing soil essential for plant life
- The hydrosphere is the layer of water on the Earth, absorbing and releasing heat to regulate temperature
- The biosphere is the narrow realm where the atmosphere, lithosphere, and hydrosphere interact, providing necessities for life
Nitrogen and Oxygen Cycles
- Nitrogen moves from the atmosphere to plants, then to animals, and back to the soil
- Oxygen is used by living things for energy and released back into the atmosphere through photosynthesis
This quiz is about the experiments and observations that demonstrate the Earth's curvature, including the Bedford level experiment and the visibility of the Pole star. Understand the evidence that supports the spherical shape of our planet. Test your knowledge and see how well you can explain these phenomena!
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