NATS 101 Quiz 1
Study Guide
Approximately 60% of the questions on Quiz #1 come
from topics on this study guide, the remaining 40% will come from
material on the Practice
Quiz Study Guide .
***
Chap. 1 (pps 8-13), Chap. 6 (pps 143-148) ***
Mass, weight,
density, and
pressure. Mass is the amount of a
particular substance. On the earth gravity pulls downward on a mass
producing weight. Pressure at any level in the atmosphere is a
measure of the weight of the air above (this is one way of thinking
about and understanding pressure). Pressure is defined as force
divided by area and acts like a force (a force that pushes upward,
downward, and sideways). Common pressure units and typical sea level
pressure values. What instrument is used to measure air pressure?
About when was it invented? Pressure and air density (density = mass
divided by volume) both decrease with increasing altitude (you should
be able to explain why). What relationship is there between the rate
of pressure decrease and air density (i.e. does pressure decrease
most rapidly in high or low density air)?
Sample questions
Practice Quiz: 15, EC2,
EC3 Quiz #1: 3,
17 Final Exam: 6,
11,
Ideal Gas Law.
This is
a
microscopic scale way of thinking about
what causes air pressure. Two equations
P = N k T / V and P = (rho) R
T. N is the number of air molecules in
a
volume V. T is temperature and rho
is density. R and k are both constants. What
will happen to the
pressure in a balloon if you change the variables in the
equation above? What variables could you change together in such a way
that the pressure
would stay constant?
Ideal gas law
applications. If you heat or cool a parcel of air in the
atmosphere, Charles' law says the density
(volume)
will change in such a way that the air pressure inside the parcel
remains constant (remains the same as the pressure of the air
surrounding the parcel).
Upward and downward forces act on air parcels (the
strength of one of the forces depends on the air inside the parcel, the
other on the air outside the parcel). These two forces are usually in
balance. What happens to the balance when you warm or cool a parcel of
air? Basically you should be able to explain why a balloon of hot
low density air rises and a balloon of cold high density air sinks.
Sample questions
Quiz #1: 13, 14, 16
Final Exam: 22, 41
***
Chap. 1 (pps 13-18), Chap. 6 (pps 141-149), Appendix C (pps 431-432)
***
Station model notation.
Cloud cover, temperature, dew point temperature (typical values for
Tucson), wind direction and speed, common weather symbols (rain, snow,
fog, rain shower, thunderstorm, tropical storm and hurricane),
pressure. Units. After pressure is measured, what important adjustment
is made before the pressure is plotted on the surface map? Why is that
necessary? Average value and typical range of sea-level pressures.
Surface weather maps.
Surface observations are made and a new map is prepared hourly. What
time zone or time reference is used? 24-hour clock (what time is it
when it is 17:30 in Tucson). Isobars and isotherms. Small horizontal
differences in pressure cause the wind to blow. Air motions around high
and low pressure centers (northern hemisphere). Strong and weak
pressure gradients. Convergence and divergence. Rising and sinking air
motions. How do wind motions around highs and low affect the
temperature pattern? Cold fronts and warm fronts.
There won't be any
questions on Quiz #1 from the following section:
Upper level charts
Ridges
(warm air below) and troughs (cold air below). Winds blow parallel to
contour lines and from west to east. Would upper-level convergence
cause surface pressure to increase or decrease?
Sample questions
Practice Quiz: 2, 10, 11, 14,
19
Quiz #1: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10,
11
Final Exam: 3, 7, 10, 17, 26?, 34, 52
Reviews
Mon.
Tue.
Wed.
|
4-5 pm
4-5 pm
4-5 pm
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ILC 141
Harvill 318
Harvill 302
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