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Energy in The Atmosphere and Ocean: Topic Test Answer Key

The document is a topic test answer key focused on energy in the atmosphere and ocean, detailing various questions and sample answers related to global winds, ocean currents, and thermal energy in water. It includes scoring rubrics for evaluating student responses based on their understanding of the interactions between the atmosphere and hydrosphere. The key highlights the importance of factors like unequal heating and the Coriolis effect in driving weather patterns and ocean circulation.

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12 views2 pages

Energy in The Atmosphere and Ocean: Topic Test Answer Key

The document is a topic test answer key focused on energy in the atmosphere and ocean, detailing various questions and sample answers related to global winds, ocean currents, and thermal energy in water. It includes scoring rubrics for evaluating student responses based on their understanding of the interactions between the atmosphere and hydrosphere. The key highlights the importance of factors like unequal heating and the Coriolis effect in driving weather patterns and ocean circulation.

Uploaded by

Ali M
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Energy in the Atmosphere and Ocean

Topic Test Answer Key

1. C

2. Ken sees the doldrums on the map. The doldrums are sometimes called a “windless
zone” because sailing ships often become stranded in these areas. Air in the
doldrums rises because it is (pushed up by the rotation of Earth / cooled by the
ice at the poles / warmed by the sun at the Equator / moved from low to high
pressure by ships). After the air rises, (it becomes warmer and sinks / it
becomes less dense / it begins to cool off and sink / the pressure decreases).

3. Sample: Global winds and surface ocean currents are both affected by the
unequal heating of Earth’s surface. They are both also affected by Earth’s
rotation, which causes the Coriolis effect. These two factors cause the global
winds and surface ocean currents to move in the same circular pattern on
Earth.
Scoring Rubric:
Total Points: 2 Scoring Criteria
Student identifies two factors that
drive the pattern of global wind and
2 pts
ocean current circulation. (one point
each)
4. B
5. C

6.

7. A chemist working in a laboratory is investigating the thermal energy of H2O in


a solid, liquid, and gas state. First, she places ice in a pan on a burner and
heats it. She records the temperature at which the solid ice melts. Next, she
takes the liquid water and heats it in a microwave. The liquid begins to bubble
and evaporate into a gas. She records the temperature at which the liquid
water turned into a gas.

Topic Test Answer Key


Copyright © by Savvas Learning Company LLC. All Rights Reserved.
8. Sample: Global wind belts drive ocean surface currents in a circular pattern.
Unequal heating in the atmosphere causes unequal heating of water in the
oceans. Jet streams in the atmosphere can have major impacts on weather
conditions, such as heavy rainfall or snowfall events. Any changes in
temperature and air pressure in the atmosphere can cause weather events.
Scoring Rubric:
Total Points: 3 Scoring Criteria
Student explains three ways the
3 pts atmosphere interacts with the
hydrosphere. (one point each)

9. Helena is making a computer model to compare warm and cold surface currents. She
wants to explain how they affect the climate of different locations. Helena should
explain that cold surface currents (are less dense than warm currents / cool the air
above them / make the climate warm and wet / warm the air above them), while
warm surface currents (are more dense than cold currents / warm the air above
them / cool the air above them / make the climate cool and dry).

10. D
11. A, B, D
12. C, D
13. Sample: Cold water rises to the surface in the process of upwelling because
strong winds push the warmer surface water away. Generally, warm water is
above cold water because cold water is denser, and so it sinks. Warm water is
less dense, so it rises to the surface.
Scoring Rubric:
Total Points: 2 Scoring Criteria
Student explains that wind currents
1 pt cause cold water to rise to the
surface.
Student explains that cold water is
1 pt dense, so it sinks, and warm water is
less dense, so it rises.
14. C

Topic Test Answer Key


Copyright © by Savvas Learning Company LLC. All Rights Reserved.

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