Middle School Earth and Space Science
Help Questions
Earth Science › Middle School Earth and Space Science
Which of the following instruments can best help us predict the path of a natural disaster like a hurricane?
satellites
a thermometer
a windmill
binoculars
Explanation
The answer is "satellites."
Predicting the size, location, and timing of natural hazards is virtually impossible. However, we can use tools like satellites to predict the path of and learn more about natural disasters as they occur. Sometimes scientists can track the direction of hurricanes, or predict the affected areas of a flood, but most other types of natural disasters are even more difficult to predict than those.
Avalanche- a large amount of snow moving quickly down a mountain, typically on slopes of 30 to 45 degrees. Avalanches can be caused by people, new snow and wind.
Earthquake- a sudden, rapid shaking of the ground caused by the shifting of rocks deep underneath the earth’s surface. Earthquakes can happen without warning and can result in injuries and damage to property and roads. Earthquakes can cause fires, tsunamis, landslides or avalanches. While they can happen anywhere, areas at higher risk for earthquakes include California, Oregon, Washington, and other places that are directly above fault lines.
Flooding- a temporary overflow of water onto land that is normally dry. Floods are the most common natural disaster in the United States. Failing to evacuate flooded areas or entering flood waters can lead to injury or death. Floods can develop slowly or quickly. Flash floods can come with no warning.
Hurricanes- also called typhoons and cyclones, are dangerous storms of swirling winds and can cause major damage due to storm surge, wind damage, and flooding. Storm surge is historically the leading cause of hurricane-related deaths in the United States.
Other types of natural disasters include tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, wildfires, and tornadoes.
What type of front is occuring when warm humid air of a warm air mass is pushed up and results in a short period of heavy rain and possibly violent thunderstorms?
a cold front
a warm front
an occluded front
a stationary front
Explanation
The answer is "a cold front."
A cold front moves faster than a warm air mass. The warm humid air is pushed up and results in a short period of heavy rain and possibly violent thunderstorms.
A warm front moves slower than a cold air mass. The warm raises steadily above the cooler air mass and causes gentle rain showers for longer periods of time.
An occluded front is a combination of two fronts that form when a cold front catches up and overtakes a warm front. The result is a mix of rain showers and thunderstorms.
A stationary front is the boundary between two air masses when neither is moving. Clear skies to partly cloudy skies may result, with occasional light rain.
What is the result of a cool air mass and a warm air mass converging low to the ground?
stormy weather patterns
a sunny clear sky
winds become calm
there are less clouds
Explanation
The answer is "stormy weather patterns"
A cold front moves faster than a warm air mass. The warm humid air is pushed up and results in a short period of heavy rain and possibly violent thunderstorms.
A warm front moves slower than a cold air mass. The warm air raises steadily above the cooler air mass and causes gentle rain showers for longer periods of time.
An occluded front is a combination of two fronts that form when a cold front catches up and overtakes a warm front. The result is a mix of rain showers and thunderstorms.
A stationary front is the boundary between two air masses when neither is moving. Clear skies to partly cloudy skies may result, with occasional light rain.
Which of these climate zones has the warmest temperatures?
polar
temperate
dry
tropical
Explanation
The answer is "tropical"
Tropical: In this hot and humid zone, the average temperatures are greater than 64°F (18°C) year-round and there is more than 59 inches of precipitation each year.
Dry: These climate zones are so dry because moisture is rapidly evaporated from the air and there is very little precipitation.
Temperate: In this zone, there are typically warm and humid summers with thunderstorms and mild winters.
Continental: These regions have warm to cool summers and very cold winters. In the winter, this zone can experience snowstorms, strong winds, and very cold temperatures—sometimes falling below -22°F (-30°C)!
Polar: In the polar climate zones, it’s extremely cold. Even in summer, the temperatures here never go higher than 50°F (10°C)!
What type of front is depicted in the image?
a cold front
a warm front
an occluded front
a stationary front
Explanation
The answer is "a cold front."
A front is a boundary between two air masses.
Cold fronts are designated by lines of blue triangles.
Warm fronts are designated by lines of red semi circles.
A stationary front has both of a cold and warm front on the same line facing opposite directions. An occluded front has both a warm and cold front traveling in the same direction.
On weather maps, high pressure systems have an “H” at the center. High pressure systems bring cold air and spin outward.
Low pressure systems are marked with an “L.” They spin inward and bring warm air.
When strong updrafts occur, what type of weather should we expect?
tornadoes, hail, high winds
clear, sunny skies
gentle showers
high humidity but no rain
Explanation
The answer is "tornadoes, hail, high winds."
A front represents a boundary between two different air masses, such as warm and cold air. If cold air is advancing into warm air, a cold front is present. On the other hand, if a cold air mass is retreating and warm air is advancing, a warm front exists.
Thunderstorms are caused by moisture and differences in air pressure. Remember that warm air rises and cold air sinks. When warm, moist air is near the ground and cold, dry air is up above, convection will create unstable air currents where high pressure and low pressure systems meet. In a big thunderstorm cloud, there are now strong upward winds and downward winds happening at the same time. These are called updrafts and downdrafts. This is the most dangerous stage of the storm, when tornadoes, hail, winds and flooding can happen. Updrafts continue to fuel the storm with warm, moist air. But, once a storm runs out of updrafts, it starts to weaken.
What conclusion can be drawn from the graph?
greenhouse gas emissions have been increasing for the last 50 years
greenhouse gas emissions have been causing climate change
greenhouse gas emissions have been decreasing for the last 50 years
greenhouse gas emissions have been staying the same for the last 50 years
Explanation
The answer is "greenhouse gas emissions have been increasing for the last 50 years."
Which of the following can be caused by an Earthquake?
all of these
tsunami
landslide
avalanche
Explanation
The answer is all of these.
Predicting the size, location, and timing of natural hazards is virtually impossible. Sometimes scientists can track the direction of hurricanes, or predict the affected areas of a flood, but most other types of natural disasters are even more difficult to predict than those
Avalanche- a large amount of snow moving quickly down a mountain, typically on slopes of 30 to 45 degrees. Avalanches can be caused by people, new snow and wind.
Earthquake- a sudden, rapid shaking of the ground caused by the shifting of rocks deep underneath the earth’s surface. Earthquakes can happen without warning and can result in injuries and damage to property and roads. Earthquakes can cause fires, tsunamis, landslides or avalanches. While they can happen anywhere, areas at higher risk for earthquakes include California, Oregon, Washington, and other places that are directly above fault lines.
Flooding- a temporary overflow of water onto land that is normally dry. Floods are the most common natural disaster in the United States. Failing to evacuate flooded areas or entering flood waters can lead to injury or death. Floods can develop slowly or quickly. Flash floods can come with no warning.
Hurricanes- also called typhoons and cyclones, are dangerous storms of swirling winds and can cause major damage due to storm surge, wind damage, and flooding. Storm surge is historically the leading cause of hurricane-related deaths in the United States.
Other types of natural disasters include tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, wildfires, and tornadoes.
What is best represented by the diagram shown?
Earth's seasons
Earth's night and day
Earth's rotation
Earth's solar cycle
Explanation
The answer is "Earth's seasons."
The seasons are caused by the tilt of the Earth's rotational axis away or toward the sun as it travels through its year-long path around the sun. The Earth has a tilt of 23.5 degrees relative to the "ecliptic plane" (the imaginary surface formed by it's almost-circular path around the sun).
Which of the following answer choices is a satellite that orbits a planet and reflects light from a star?
a moon
another planet
a star
an asteroid
Explanation
The answer is "a moon" because moons revolve around planets.
Star - A ball of hydrogen gas held together by gravity. The central core of a star is extremely hot and produces energy. Some of this energy is released as visible light, which makes the star glow.
Planet - a celestial body moving in an elliptical orbit around a star
Solar System - a collection of planets and their moons in orbit around a star, together with smaller bodies in the form of asteroids, meteoroids, and comets.
Galaxy - a system of millions or billions of stars and the solar systems within them, together with gas and dust, held together by gravitational attraction