Performance Benchmark E.12.A.1

1. High School Science Proficiency Review Performance Benchmark E.12.A.1 Students know the Sun is the major source of Earth’s energy, and provides the energy driving Earth’s weather and climate.

2. Earth’s surface absorbs mainly which types of energy? • Ultraviolet light and x-rays • Infrared and visible light • Ultraviolet and infrared light • Visible and ultraviolet light

3. Earth’s surface absorbs mainly which types of energy? Most Ultraviolet (UV) is blocked by the ozone layer. • Ultraviolet light and x-rays • Infrared and visible light • Ultraviolet and infrared light • Visible and ultraviolet light We can see visible light. We can feel the warmth of infrared (IR).

4. The energy source driving Earth’s weather comes from a. the Earth’s core through heat conduction.b. release of radiant heat energy through volcanic activity.c. the Sun through electromagnetic radiation.d. the Moon through tides.

5. The energy source driving Earth’s weather comes from a. the Earth’s core through heat conduction.b. release of radiant heat energy through volcanic activity.c. the Sun through electromagnetic radiation.d. the Moon through tides. The moon is only illuminated by the sun’s light, it does not produce energy.

6. The energy source driving Earth’s weather comes from a. the Earth’s core through heat conduction.b. release of radiant heat energy through volcanic activity.c. the Sun through electromagnetic radiation.d. the Moon through tides. Both a and b produce heat energy, but not enough to warm the atmosphere of the earth.

7. The energy source driving Earth’s weather comes from a. the Earth’s core through heat conduction.b. release of radiant heat energy through volcanic activity.c. the Sun through electromagnetic radiation.d. the Moon through tides. Solar Energy - reaches the Earth in the form of radiant energy, and makes up 99% of the energy received by the Earth.

8. The Earth’s surface mainly gives off (radiates) which form of energy? a. Infrared lightb. Visible lightc. Ultraviolet lightd. The Earth’s surface does not give off energy

9. The Earth’s surface mainly gives off (radiates) which form of energy? a. Infrared lightb. Visible lightc. Ultraviolet lightd. The Earth’s surface does not give off energy Watch out for this one … you may think no energy is given off by the Earth’s surface, but that is not true.

10. The Earth’s surface mainly gives off (radiates) which form of energy? a. Infrared lightb. Visible lightc. Ultraviolet lightd. The Earth’s surface does not give off energy It is not emitting visible light … otherwise it would not appear dark at night.

11. The Earth’s surface mainly gives off (radiates) which form of energy? a. Infrared lightb. Visible lightc. Ultraviolet lightd. The Earth’s surface does not give off energy It is radiating HEAT or Infrared (IR) radiation that was previously absorbed from the sun.

12. About 70% of the Sun’s energy directed toward Earth is absorbed by the Earth’s surface, clouds, and atmosphere. What happens to the rest of the energy? a. The energy is lost as it overcomes the Sun’s gravity.b. The energy is reflected by clouds, water, and land back into space.c. The energy is diminished as it travels through space.d. The energy is reflected by the Moon back into space

13. What happens to the rest of the energy? a. The energy is lost as it overcomes the Sun’s gravity.b. The energy is reflected by clouds, water, and land back into space.c. The energy is diminished as it travels through space.d. The energy is reflected by the Moon back into space No way … the moon is too small.

14. What happens to the rest of the energy? a. The energy is lost as it overcomes the Sun’s gravity.b. The energy is reflected by clouds, water, and land back into space.c. The energy is diminished as it travels through space.d. The energy is reflected by the Moon back into space Need a reason for it to diminish.

15. What happens to the rest of the energy? a. The energy is lost as it overcomes the Sun’s gravity.b. The energy is reflected by clouds, water, and land back into space.c. The energy is diminished as it travels through space.d. The energy is reflected by the Moon back into space Of the Sun’s incoming energy, about 30% is reflected back to space.

16. Weather is caused by the Sun’s energy warming the Earth’s surface unevenly. Which of the following is NOT a contributing factor to this uneven warming? a. Different surfaces warm at different rates.b. Different surfaces retain energy differently.c. The Sun is farther away during the winter.d. The Sun’s rays strike the surface at different angles depending on latitude.

17. Weather is caused by the Sun’s energy warming the Earth’s surface unevenly. Which of the following isNOT a contributing factor to this uneven warming? TRUE a. Different surfaces warm at different rates.b. Different surfaces retain energy differently.c. The Sun is farther away during the winter.d. The Sun’s rays strike the surface at different angles depending on latitude. TRUE NOT TRUE That is a common misconception … the sun is NOT farther away, the TILT of the earth is the reason for the seasons.

18. More of the Sun’s energy is received at the Earth’s tropical regions than in the arctic regions because the tropical regions a. are covered by a greater area of land.b. have more vegetation that absorbs the Sun’s energy.c. have a thinner atmosphere than the polar regions.d. receive sun rays closest to vertical.

19. More of the Sun’s energy is received at the Earth’s tropical regions than in the arctic regions because the tropical regions a. are covered by a greater area of land.b. have more vegetation that absorbs the Sun’s energy.c. have a thinner atmosphere than the polar regions.d. receive sun rays closest to vertical. NO NOT NECESSARILY NO WAY Tropical regions (by the equator) receive more direct sunlight

20. Tropical regions (by the equator) receive more direct sunlight

21. The following figure shows the angle of the sun’s rays hitting two different locations on the Earth’s surface. Which of the statements about the figure is most correct? A B

22. a. Area A = near the pole and Area B = near the equator. Warming of the Earth is more with Area B than Area A because Sun’s energy is spread over a wider area.b. Area A = near the pole and Area B = near the equator. Warming of the Earth is more with Area A than Area B because the atmosphere is thinner at the equator.c. Area A = near the equator and Area B = near the pole. Warming of the Earth is more with Area A than Area B because the atmosphere is thinner at the equator.d. Area A = near the equator and Area B = near the pole. Warming of the Earth is more with Area A than Area B because the Sun’s energy is concentrated within a smaller area. A B Area A has to be near equator due to direct sunlight.

23. a. Area A = near the pole and Area B = near the equator. Warming of the Earth is more with Area B than Area A because Sun’s energy is spread over a wider area.b. Area A = near the pole and Area B = near the equator. Warming of the Earth is more with Area A than Area B because the atmosphere is thinner at the equator.c. Area A = near the equator and Area B = near the pole. Warming of the Earth is more with Area A than Area B because the atmosphere is thinner at the equator.d. Area A = near the equator and Area B = near the pole. Warming of the Earth is more with Area A than Area B because the Sun’s energy is concentrated within a smaller area. A B Atmosphere is not thinner anywhere

24. a. Area A = near the pole and Area B = near the equator. Warming of the Earth is more with Area B than Area A because Sun’s energy is spread over a wider area.b. Area A = near the pole and Area B = near the equator. Warming of the Earth is more with Area A than Area B because the atmosphere is thinner at the equator.c. Area A = near the equator and Area B = near the pole. Warming of the Earth is more with Area A than Area B because the atmosphere is thinner at the equator.d. Area A = near the equator and Area B = near the pole. Warming of the Earth is more with Area A than Area B because the Sun’s energy is concentrated within a smaller area. A B This is the best choice.