Earth Science January 2017

Earth Science January 2017 Questions Answers Keys.

The University of the State of New York
Regents high school examination
Physical setting
Earth science
Thursday, January 26, 2017 — 9:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., only

Directions : For each statement or question, choose the word or expression that, of those given, best completes the statement or answers the question. Some questions may require the use of the 2011 Edition Reference Tables for Physical Setting/Earth Science. Record your answers on your separate answer sheet.

1. Which statement best explains why stars viewed from the Northern Hemisphere appear to revolve around Polaris?

(1) Polaris rotates on its axis.
(2) Earth rotates on its axis.
(3) Polaris revolves around Earth.
(4) Earth revolves around Polaris.

Answer: (2) Earth rotates on its axis

2. The hydrosphere covers approximately what percentage of Earth’s lithosphere?

(1) 100%
(2) 70%
(3) 50%
(4) 25%

Answer: (2) 70%

3. The defl ection of prevailing winds and ocean currents in the Northern Hemisphere is called

(1) eccentricity
(2) refraction
(3) the Coriolis effect
(4) the Doppler effect

Answer: (3) The Coriolis effect

4. Earth’s rate of revolution is approximately

(1) 1° per day
(2) 15° per day
(3) 23.5° per day
(4) 360° per day

Answer: (1) 1° per day

5. The asteroid Ceres lies at an average distance of 414 million kilometers from the Sun. The period of revolution of Ceres around the Sun is approximately

(1) 438 days
(2) 687 days
(3) 4.6 years
(4) 12.6 years

Answer: (3) 4.6 years

6. Which planet has a density that is less than the density of liquid water?

(1) Mercury
(2) Earth
(3) Mars
(4) Saturn

Answer: (4) Saturn

7. The diagram below represents two planets of equal mass, A and B, revolving around a star. The planets are represented at specifi c positions in their orbits.

When both planets are at the positions represented, planet B

(1) can be seen at night from planet A, and planet B is moving faster in its orbit
(2) can be seen at night from planet A, and planet B is moving slower in its orbit
(3) cannot be seen at night from planet A, and planet B is moving faster in its orbit
(4) cannot be seen at night from planet A, and planet B is moving slower in its orbit

Answer: (2) Can be seen at night from planet A, and planet B is moving slower in its orbit

8. Compared to terrestrial planets, Jovian planets have

(1) smaller equatorial diameters and shorter periods of revolution
(2) smaller equatorial diameters and longer periods of revolution
(3) larger equatorial diameters and shorter periods of revolution
(4) larger equatorial diameters and longer periods of revolution

Answer: (4) larger equatorial diameters and longer periods of revolution

9. Clouds most likely form as a result of

(1) moist air rising, compressing, and warming
(2) moist air rising, expanding, and cooling
(3) dry air rising, compressing, and warming
(4) dry air rising, expanding, and cooling

Answer: (2) Moist air rising, expanding, and cooling

10. The dewpoint is 15°C. What is the wet-bulb temperature on a sling psychrometer if the dry-bulb temperature is 18°C?

(1) 16°C
(2) 2°C
(3) 3°C
(4) 20°C

Answer: (1) 16°C

11. Which weather instrument is used to measure air temperatures recorded on a weather map?

(1) anemometer
(2) wind vane
(3) thermometer
(4) barometer

Answer: (3) Thermometer

12. Equal masses of basalt, granite, iron, and copper received the same amount of solar energy during the day. At night, which of these materials cooled down at the fastest rate?

(1) basalt
(2) granite
(3) iron
(4) copper

Answer: (4) Copper

13. Equal areas of which type of surface will refl ect the most insolation?

(1) light gray rooftop
(2) dark tropical forest
(3) snow-covered field
(4) black paved road

Answer: (3) Snow-covered field

14. Riverhead, New York, has a smaller average daily temperature range than Elmira, New York, because Riverhead is located

(1) near a large body of water
(2) at a lower latitude
(3) at a higher elevation
(4) near a large city

Answer: (1) Near a large body of water

15. Which diagram best represents the relative wavelengths of visible light, ultraviolet energy, and infrared energy?

Answer: (1)

16. Volcanic ash is a good geologic time marker because the ash

(1) is deposited rapidly over a large area
(2) spreads evenly in all compass directions
(3) is easily weathered and eroded
(4) remains in the atmosphere for millions of years

Answer: (1) Is deposited rapidly over a large area

17. The change in life-forms in the fossil record from less complex organisms to more complex organisms over time is best explained by

(1) extinction
(2) evolution
(3) dynamic equilibrium
(4) original horizontality

Answer: (2) Evolution

18. The graph below shows the yearly air temperature and precipitation of a location on Earth.

This location would be most likely at a latitude of

(1) 0°
(2) 35° S
(3) 50° N
(4) 90° N

Answer: (3) 50° N

19. Arrows in the diagram below represent the daytime fl ow of air over a coastal region.

Which process primarily transfers heat by moving air?

(1) conduction
(2) convection
(3) radiation
(4) transpiration

Answer: (2) Convection

20. The graph below shows the radioactive decay of rubidium-87.

What percentage of rubidium-87 atoms will be left after four half-lives?

(1) 25.0%
(2) 12.5%
(3) 6.25%
(4) 3.125%

Answer: (3) 6.25%

21. The pressure at the interface between Earth’s outer core and inner core is inferred to be

(1) 0.2 million atmosphere
(2) 1.5 million atmospheres
(3) 3.1 million atmospheres
(4) 3.6 million atmospheres

Answer: (3) 3.1 million atmospheres

22. Which type of tectonic plate boundary is found between the South American Plate and the Scotia Plate?

(1) transform
(2) convergent
(3) divergent
(4) complex or uncertain

Answer: (1) Transform

23. The epicenter of an earthquake was located 1800 kilometers from a seismic recording station. If the S-wave arrived at the seismic station at 10:06:40 a.m., at what time did the P-wave arrive at the same seismic station?

(1) 10:03:00 a.m.
(2) 10:03:40 a.m.
(3) 10:09:40 a.m.
(4) 10:10:20 a.m.

Answer: (2) 10:03:40 a.m.

24. A strong earthquake that occurs on the ocean fl oor could result in the formation of

(1) a tsunami
(2) a delta
(3) an El Niño event
(4) an ocean current

Answer: (1) A tsunami

25. The block diagram below represents a rapid downslope fl ow of saturated soil and rock layers.

What are two likely causes of this rapid downslope fl ow?

(1) groundwater and abrasion
(2) groundwater and gravity
(3) prevailing wind and abrasion
(4) prevailing wind and gravity

Answer: (2) Groundwater and gravity

26. The map below shows a stream. Letters A, B, C, and D represent locations on the stream surface. Arrows represent the direction of stream fl ow.

Which two locations have the greatest stream velocities?

(1) A and B
(2) B and C
(3) C and D
(4) D and A

Answer: (4) D and A

27. Which climate conditions most likely produce a landscape with rounded hills, large river valleys with many tributaries, and tropical vegetation?