Question | Answer |
Define energy. | The ability to do work or cause change |
Define kinetic energy and give 2 examples of kinetic energy. | The energy of motion, A bowling ball and wind pushing a windmill. |
Define potential energy and give 2 examples of potential energy. | Energy that is stored and held in readiness, fat that a bear stores in its body before hibernation, and a bow pulled back and ready to shoot an arrow. |
List the 6 forms of energy and give an example of each. | Mechanical- Wind, a bowling ball, a frog jumping
Electrical- The energy carried by powerlines
Electromagnetic- Light waves, Ultraviolet waves, microwaves
Chemical- Sugar that we eat for energy, gasoline, wood to make a fire |
6 forms of energy (cont) | Thermal- The energy that makes water boil, the energy that melts ice cream
Nuclear- Energy in the sun |
Describe the path of energy from the sun to a light bulb by way of a windmill. Which form is the energy being converted into during each step? | Nuclear to electromagnetic in the sun
Electromagnetic to thermal in the atmosphere
Thermal to mechanical when wind moves
Mechanical to electrical in a wind turbine
Electrical to electromagnetic in a light bulb |
What happens to water (liquid) that gains energy? | The water evaporates (changes from liquid to a gas) |
What happens to water vapor (gas) that loses energy? | The water condenses (changes from a gas to a liquid) and may eventually freeze (change from a liquid to a solid) |
Describe what happens when cold water is on top of warm water. Explain why this happens. | The warm water will rise and the cold water will sink because the warm water is less dense. This will cause the water to become mixed, with an even temperature. |
Describe what happens when warm water is on top of cold water. Explain why this happens. | The cold water will remain on the bottom because it is more dense and the warm water will remain floating on top because it is less dense. |
Describe what happens when salt water is on top of fresh water. Explain why this happens. | The salt water is more dense than fresh water, so the salt water sinks. |
Describe what happens when fresh water is on top of salt water. Explain why this happens. | The fresh water is less dense than the salt water so it “floats” or remains on top of the salt water. |
Describe what drives deep water currents. | Different densities – cold water at the poles sinks, pushing deep water around. |
Describe what drives surface water currents. | Winds |
What form of energy do we get from the sun? | Electromagnetic |
Describe the types of heat transfer that take place from the sun to our atmosphere. Use the words radiation, conduction, and convection. | The sun’s energy heats the ground via radiation.
The air molecules touching the ground are heated by conduction.
The warm air molecules move up and around, heating the atmosphere by convection. |
Define wind. | The horizontal movement of air from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure. |
Which is denser, cold air or warm air? | Cold air, It is more dense because the molecules are closer together and they are closer together because the bonds are absorbing less energy and therefore do not move as much. |
Which has greater pressure, cold air or warm air? | Cold air is more dense than warm air. Since warm air is less dense and creates less air pressure, it will rise; cold air is denser and creates greater air pressure, and so it will sink. |
If the air over the ocean is 22 degrees and the air over the land is 28 degrees, which way will the wind blow? Why? What would we call this wind? | Direction: From the ocean to the land
Reason: The air over the ocean is more dense, so it will spread out and push under the warm air over the land. The warm air over the land will rise.
Name: Sea Breeze |
Define Tornado: | A narrow, violently rotating column of air that extends from the base of a cloud to the ground. |
List 5 conditions under which it is likely a tornado will form (time, place, or weather phenomena). | Spring or Summer
Late afternoon
After a thunderstorm
In Tornado Alley (mid west/Southern US
Where cold dry and warm moist air meet |