Question

earths spheres h.o.t. quiz

1. mary is making a poster to show the interactions among earths spheres. what part of the geosphere will mary include on her poster?

a. asthenosphere
b. atmosphere
c. lithosphere
d. mantle

1. for science day demonstration, ms. addams class built a model showing how earths various spheres interact with one another. which process could the class use to show interactions among the hydrosphere, atmosphere, and the biosphere?

a. erosion of soil by flowing water
b. photosynthesis in a large rain forest
c. formation of ice bergs as glaciers reach the sea
d. breaking down of rocks by mechanical weathering of tree roots

1. when sunlight strikes land or water on earths surface, its energy is changed into heat energy. much of the heat energy is radiated away from earths surface as infrared radiation. why does a large part of this energy remain near earths surface instead of going back into space?

a. infrared energy cannot travel very far so it stays close to the surface.
b. gases in the atmosphere absorb infrared radiation and keep the energy as heat.
c. the atmosphere reflects the radiation back to the surface so it cannot escape earth.
d. infrared radiation moves very slowly so it cannot escape earths gravitational pull.

1. although meteors occasionally land on earth, there are very few meteor strikes on earths surface compared to the moons surface. why do few meteors strike earth?

a. satellites above earth use lasers to clear the sky of meteors.
b. meteors strike the moon first so they dont make it to earth.
c. most meteors burn up due to friction with the air in the atmosphere
d. earths magnetic field repels meteors

Explanation:

1. The geosphere includes the lithosphere (the rigid outer part of the Earth). The asthenosphere is part of the mantle (a layer within the Earth), the atmosphere is a separate sphere, and the mantle is a layer, not a part of the geosphere in the context of Earth's spheres (geosphere is mainly lithosphere).
2. Photosynthesis in a large rain forest involves the biosphere (plants), hydrosphere (water used in photosynthesis), and atmosphere (carbon dioxide intake and oxygen release). Erosion of soil by flowing water is hydrosphere - geosphere. Formation of icebergs is hydrosphere - geosphere. Breaking down of rocks by tree roots is biosphere - geosphere.
3. Gases in the atmosphere (like carbon dioxide, water vapor) absorb infrared radiation (greenhouse effect). Infrared energy can travel far. The atmosphere doesn't reflect most of it back in a simple reflection way. Infrared radiation speed is not the reason (it's electromagnetic radiation, speed of light in vacuum, affected by medium but not the main reason here).
4. Most meteors burn up due to friction with the air in the atmosphere. Satellites don't clear meteors with lasers. Meteors don't strike the moon first (they can come from various directions). Earth's magnetic field doesn't repel meteors (meteors are mainly rocky/metallic objects, magnetic field effect is negligible compared to atmospheric friction).

Answer:

1. C. Lithosphere
2. B. Photosynthesis in a large rain forest
3. B. Gases in the atmosphere absorb infrared radiation and keep the energy as heat.
4. C. Most meteors burn up due to friction with the air in the atmosphere