Question

1. The Coriolis Effect is NOT
a) a force due to a rotating frame of reference
b) proportional to the wind speed
c) strongest at the equator
d) dependent upon the latitude
e) the cause of wind deflection to the left in the southern hemisphere

2. In the absence of Coriolis force and friction, wind would blow
a) vertically upward
b) from low pressure to high pressure
c) in the direction of the pressure gradient force
d) parallel to isobars
e) clockwise

3. Geostrophic flow occurs in the upper atmosphere because
a) friction is ineffective away from the surface
b) the air temperature drops away from the surface
c) gravity decreases away from the surface
d) air density decreases away from the surface

4. The layers of the Earth’s surface from top (outer space) to bottom (to ground ) are...
(a) troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere and thermosphere
(b) thermosphere, mesosphere, stratosphere and troposphere
(c) thermosphere, stratosphere, mesosphere and troposphere
(d) stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere and troposphere
(e) thermosphere, stratosphere, troposphere and mesosphere

5. When light enters a piece of transparent ice from air and then re-emerges into air, the speed of the light:
(a) increases and then stays constant
(b) decreases and then stays constant
(c) increases and then decreases
(d) decreases and then increases
(e) stays constant always

Answer 1

1)

F_c = 2*v*sinθ

θ = latitude at equator  θ = 0 so F = 0

c) strongest at the equator is false statement and your answer

2)

c) in the direction of the pressure gradient force

3) a) friction is ineffective away from the surface

When isobars are straight and when there is no friction, the pressure gradient force is balanced by the Coriolis force and the resultant wind blows parallel to the isobar. This wind is known as the geostrophic wind

4)

(a) troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere and thermosphere

5)

speed of the light: in medium n

v = c/n so

ice n > air n so

V_ice < V_air

(d) decreases and then increases