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Weather, Clouds, and the Water Cycle
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Weather, Clouds, and the Water Cycle
Weather, Clouds, and the Water Cycle
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1
Question
How can water droplets form hail while falling through the atmosphere?
Page 1
Answer
They can freeze as they fall through cold layers of the atmosphere, reaching freezing temperature before landing on the ground.
2
Question
Why do warm parcels of air rise above cooler surrounding air?
Page 2
Answer
Warm air parcels are less dense and lighter than the surrounding air, so they rise upward.
3
Question
Which conditions allow clouds to form from atmospheric water vapor?
Page 3
Answer
The air must reach 100% humidity and then be cooled. Clouds form when air is saturated and can no longer hold all its water vapor.
4
Question
How do the four main water-cycle processes move water?
Page 3
Answer
Evaporation changes liquid water to gas and carries it into the atmosphere. Condensation forms clouds, precipitation returns water from clouds, and collection gathers it in bodies of water.
5
Question
How do temperature contrast and humidity affect storm development?
Page 3
Answer
A greater temperature contrast provides more energy for storm development and leads to larger storms. Higher humidity provides more energy and leads to stronger storms.
6
Question
Where do hailstorms occur most frequently in the United States?
Page 1
Answer
The central United States experiences the most frequent hailstorms.
7
Question
When are hailstorms most likely to occur?
Page 1
Answer
They are most likely in the late afternoon or evening during spring, summer, and fall.
8
Question
How do clouds move during a hail event?
Page 1
Answer
Clouds can move into and out of the hail area; they are not stationary during storm events.
9
Question
How does increasing air temperature affect air molecules' motion?
Page 1
Answer
The molecules that make up air speed up as air temperature increases. Warmer air has faster-moving molecules; cooler air has slower-moving molecules.
10
Question
How does air temperature change as altitude increases?
Page 1
Answer
Air temperature decreases with altitude, regardless of the season.
11
Question
Why can asphalt become hotter than grass in sunlight?
Page 1
Answer
Different surfaces absorb different amounts of solar energy. Asphalt can therefore get hotter than grass.
12
Question
How does heat move from the ground into the air touching it?
Page 2
Answer
Energy transfers from the heated ground to the air above it through conduction. The ground directly heats the air molecules that touch it.
13
Question
Why does a rising warm air parcel cool as it gains altitude?
Page 2
Answer
Rising air expands and cools as it moves to higher altitudes, so the parcel's temperature decreases.
14
Question
Why does air movement occur more on sunny days than cloudy days?
Page 2
Answer
The ground is warmer on sunny days and heats the air above it more. The ground acts as the air's primary heat source.
15
Question
What does humidity measure in the air?
Page 2
Answer
Humidity measures the amount of water vapor, or moisture content, in the air.
16
Question
How does evaporation change water's state?
Page 2
Answer
Water molecules leave a liquid and become a gas during evaporation.
17
Question
Which conditions produce the fastest evaporation in the example?
Page 2
Answer
A wet towel in a warm, sunny area has the fastest evaporation.
18
Question
How does heat affect the rate of evaporation?
Page 2
Answer
Heat speeds up evaporation.
19
Question
What happens when water molecules move slowly as water cools?
Page 2
Answer
They clump and stick together when they move slowly, which happens as water cools down.
20
Question
What happens to water molecules heated above the boiling point?
Page 3
Answer
They move faster and become a gas.
21
Question
Which temperatures are given as water's boiling point?
Page 3
Answer
212°F or 100°C.
22
Question
Which three components are listed as parts of clouds?
Page 3
Answer
Water droplets, ice crystals, and water vapor.
23
Question
How does condensation produce clouds in the water cycle?
Page 3
Answer
Water vapor cools and forms clouds through condensation.
24
Question
How does precipitation return water from clouds?
Page 3
Answer
Water falls from clouds as rain, snow, sleet, or hail.
25
Question
Where does water gather during the collection stage?
Page 3
Answer
It gathers in bodies of water such as oceans, lakes, and rivers.
26
Question
How is relative humidity expressed?
Page 4
Answer
It describes how much moisture is in the air as a percentage from 0 to 100.
27
Question
How does condensation differ from evaporation?
Page 4
Answer
Condensation changes water vapor into liquid water when air is cooled. Evaporation changes liquid water into water vapor when heated.
28
Question
How does the definition of density relate mass to volume?
Page 4
Answer
Density concerns a substance's mass and how much space it takes up, or its volume; it describes how heavy something is compared with its size.
29
Question
Which temperature marks the boiling point in the definition?
Page 4
Answer
212°F; 100°C.
30
Question
What holds the atmosphere around Earth, and what gases mainly compose it?
Page 4
Answer
Gravity holds the atmospheric layer around Earth. It consists mainly of nitrogen and oxygen.