Chapter 1

Question 1

If a(n) _______ is supported consistently, it may be advanced to the level of a theory.

Answer 1

hypothesis

Question 2

Which of the following of Earth’s radii is greater?

equatorial / polar

Answer 2

The equatorial radius is greater than the polar radius.

Question 3

Earth did not form into a perfect spherical shape because ______.

Answer 3

as it rotates, the forces of rotation and gravity cause the equator to bulge outward.

Question 4

If Earth’s overall size was scaled to the size of a basketball, then the distance from Earth’s highest elevation to its deepest ocean depths would best be compared to the thickness of a(n) ______.

Answer 4

average human fingernail

Question 5

To determine your line of ______, you would need to know the angle your location (line) makes with the equatorial plane at Earth’s center.

Answer 5

latitude

Question 6

If a hypothesis is supported consistently by different observations or experiments, it may be advanced to the level of a(n) ______.

Answer 6

theory

Question 7

There are ____ degrees of longitude east and west of the prime meridian to the international date line.

Answer 7

180

Question 8

What is the primary force that causes Earth to have a greater equatorial radius than the polar radius?

Answer 8

The force of rotation causes Earth to have a greater equatorial radius than the polar radius.

Question 9

Any circle at Earth’s surface with its center at Earth’s center is called ____.

Answer 9

a great circle

Question 10

Earth did not form a perfect sphere because it ____ on its axis.

Answer 10

spins or rotates

Question 11

A nautical mile is equal to one minute of ____ length of latitude or longitude at the equator.

Answer 11

arc

Question 12

The topographic relief of Earth’s highest elevations and greatest depths is ____ compared to the overall size of the planet.

Answer 12

minor

Reason: Earth is considered quite smooth.

Question 13

It is necessary to know the time of day and the position of the Sun or the stars relative to one’s longitude line because ____.

Answer 13

the longitude line rotates with Earth, 360 degrees in twenty-four hours

Question 14

Lines of latitude, also known as ____, are referenced to the equator.

Answer 14

parallels

Question 15

Which of the following pieces of technology had to be developed in order to calculate longitude accurately?

Answer 15

clocks

Reason: Early mechanical clocks could not keep time accurately enough to allow reliable longitude calculations. It was not until John Harrison developed his chronometer in the eighteenth century that this was possible.

Question 16

If the central line of latitude is the equator, the central line of longitude is the ____ ____.

Answer 16

prime meridian

Question 17

When the Sun is at its ____, it is at the highest elevation above a reference longitude.

Answer 17

zenith

Question 18

Which of the following are true regarding a great circle?

1. All longitude lines form great circles.
2. The Tropic of Cancer is a great circle.
3. All latitude lines form great circle.
4. A great circle connecting any two points on Earth’s surface defines the shortest distance between them.
5. They include any circle on Earth’s surface with its center at Earth’s center.

Answer 18

1. All longitude lines form great circles.
2. A great circle connecting any two points on Earth’s surface defines the shortest distance between them.
3. They include any circle on Earth’s surface with its center at Earth’s center.

Question 19

The clock time is set to noon when the Sun is at its zenith above the prime meridian. This time is ____.

Answer 19

Greenwich Mean Time

Question 20

A(n) ____ is equal to one minute of arc length of latitude or longitude at the equator.

Answer 20

nautical mile

Question 21

Earth has been divided into time ____ that are 15 degrees of longitude wide, although some adjustments have been made when necessary to follow political boundaries for the convenience of people living in those areas.

Answer 21

zones

Question 22

Because lines of ____ rotate with Earth, 360 degrees in twenty-four hours, it is necessary to know the time of day and the position of the Sun or the stars relative to one’s line.

Answer 22

longitude or meridian

Question 23

Which of the following are necessary in order for you to find your position on Earth using GPS?

1. Precise measurements of distance between a receiver and four satellites.
2. Satellites to transmit a unique digital code to a ground receiver.
3. A minimum of 30 satellites visible from your point.

Answer 23

1. Precise measurements of distance between a receiver and four satellites.
2. Satellites to transmit a unique digital code to a ground receiver.

Question 24

In the eighteenth century, a ____ was used to help determine longitude more precisely on ships.

Answer 24

chronometer

Question 25

The three states of water: ____, ____, and ____, are possible on Earth’s surface because Earth’s mean surface temperature is about 61 degrees F.

Answer 25

solid or ice
liquid or fluid
gas, vapor, steam, or gaseous

Question 26

The Sun is at ____ when it is at its highest elevation above a reference longitude.

Answer 26

its zenith

Question 27

Greenwich Mean Time is also called ____ Time as well as ____ Time.

Answer 27

Universal

ZULU

Question 28

The release of water to the atmosphere by plants is called ____.

Answer 28

transpiration

Question 29

The time of sunrise changes about one hour for each ____ degrees of longitude on Earth.

Answer 29

15

Question 30

After the oceans, the second largest water reservoir on Earth is ____.

Answer 30

ice caps and glaciers

Reason: The ice sheets of Antartica and Greenland are over 2 miles thick in some places.

Question 31

The Global Positioning System uses a group of ____ as reference points for calculating positions on Earth’s surface with an accuracy of a few meters.

Answer 31

satellites

Question 32

Most of the world’s landmasses are located in the ____ Hemisphere.

Answer 32

Northern

Reason: The Northern Hemisphere contains about 70% of Earth’s present landmass.

Question 33

Because Earth’s mean surface temperature is about 61 degrees F, ____ is able to exist as a gas, a liquid, and a solid.

Answer 33

water or H2O

Question 34

The ____ Ocean is the smallest.

Answer 34

Arctic

Question 35

The hydrologic cycle involves ____.

Answer 35

a constant movement of water into and out of reservoirs

Question 36

The shallowest of the five oceans is the ____ Ocean.

Answer 36

Arctic

Question 37

The release of water by plants

Answer 37

transpiration

Question 38

The conversion of ice directly to water vapor

Answer 38

sublimation

Question 39

The hypsographic curve compares which of the following?

1. land and water surface areas
2. land and water elevation relationships
3. land and water temperature gradients

Answer 39

2. land and water elevation relationships

Reason: The hypsographic curve is a term used to describe the differences between land elevations and ocean depths.

Question 40

Rank the locations or reservoirs of Earth’s water in order from largest quantity of water held at the top to least quantity of water held at the bottom.

1. freshwater lakes
2. groundwater
3. oceans
4. ice caps
5. atmosphere

Answer 40

3. oceans
4. ice caps
5. groundwater
6. freshwater lakes
7. atmosphere

Question 41

The Southern Hemisphere is sometimes called the ____ hemisphere because it contains so much more than the Northern Hemisphere.

Answer 41

water

Question 42

The largest of the world’s oceans is the ____ Ocean.

Answer 42

Pacific

Question 43

The Atlantic Ocean is roughly ____ the size of the Pacific Ocean.

Answer 43

half

Reason: Covering 16.7% of Earth’s surface, the Atlantic is just about half the size of the Pacific.

Question 44

The hypsographic curve indicates that only ____ percent of Earth’s surface is above sea level.

Answer 44

29

Reason: Currently, 29 percent of Earth’s surface is considered above sea level. However, sea level has changed countless times throughout Earth’s long history.