Physics · Geography

Atmospheric Physics and Humidity

935 Questions

Study the principles of atmospheric physics and humidity through these practice questions. Key subjects include the rate of evaporation, temperature inversions, and relative humidity measurements. These concepts are vital for geography and physics exams.

Evaporation and condensationRelative humidity conceptsAtmospheric pressure effectsTemperature inversion

Atmospheric Physics and Humidity Questions

Multiple choice

A balloon filled with helium rises in air because __________.

  1. air exerts an upward force on the balloon

  2. the balloon is weightless

  3. helium is less dense than air

  4. helium pushes down on the air below the balloon

  5. all of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

A helium balloon rises because helium is less dense than air, which contains oxygen and nitrogen. Helium is a lighter and smaller molecule than both oxygen and nitrogen.

Multiple choice

Temperature varies from place to place with latitude and altitude. It may increase or decrease depending upon the factors that affect temperature. Certain anomalies may also develop on account of unique combination of factors. The inversion of temperature would mean that the

  1. temperature decreases with elevation

  2. temperature is constant at different elevations

  3. temperature decreases and then increases with elevation

  4. temperature changes along the same latitude
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Normally, temperature decreases with increasing altitude (the normal lapse rate). In a temperature inversion, this pattern is reversed - either temperature increases with height, or it decreases then increases within a specific atmospheric layer, creating a stable layer where warmer air sits over cooler air.

Multiple choice

The rate of evaporation is the least when there is

  1. increase in humidity

  2. decrease in humidity

  3. increase in surface area

  4. increase in wind speed

  5. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Humidity is a term indicating the amount of water vapour present in air. The air around us cannot hold more than a definite amount of water vapour at a given temperature. If the amount of water in air is already high, the rate of evaporation decreases.

Multiple choice

Fission occurs during

  1. favorable conditions

  2. unfavorable conditions

  3. hot conditions

  4. humid conditions
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Binary fission in organisms like Amoeba and Paramecium occurs during favorable environmental conditions when resources are abundant. This allows rapid population growth. During unfavorable conditions like drought or extreme temperatures, many organisms form protective cysts rather than divide.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements about air is correct?

  1. Air can be seen.

  2. Air can be smelt

  3. Air can be tasted

  4. Air can be felt
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Air is invisible and has no smell or taste. However, we can feel air through wind, air pressure against skin, or the sensation of breathing. The other options are incorrect because air cannot be seen, smelled, or tasted - it's the impurities or movement in air that we perceive.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is not correct about the characteristics of air?

  1. The composition of air is variable

  2. The components retain their original properties

  3. Air can be represented by a chemical formula

  4. Components of air do not react with each other
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Air is a mixture, not a compound. Mixtures cannot be represented by single chemical formulas because they contain multiple substances that don't combine chemically. The components of air (nitrogen, oxygen, argon, CO2, water vapor) retain their individual properties and proportions can vary, which is why there's no single formula like there is for compounds.

Multiple choice

Which of the following facts justifies the given characteristics of air? � The components retain their original properties�

  1. Amount of water vapors in air is higher in monsoon than that in the summer.

  2. Oxygen element support burning. Oxygen present in air support burning too.

  3. There is no release or absorption of energy a sample of air is prepared.

  4. Nitrogen and oxygen can be separated by boiling and condensing the liquid air.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

In a mixture, each component keeps its original chemical properties. Oxygen alone supports burning, and oxygen in air also supports burning because it remains oxygen even when mixed with nitrogen and other gases. This demonstrates that mixture components behave as they would individually. Option A shows composition variability, not property retention.

Multiple choice

Which of the following facts justifies the given characteristic of air? “The composition of air is variable”.

  1. Air on plains contains more amount of oxygen as compared to air at very high altitudes.

  2. The element oxygen supports burning. Oxygen present in the air support burning too.

  3. Nitrogen and oxygen can be separated by boiling and condensing the liquid air.

  4. Molecule of carbon dioxide can turn lime water milky.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Oxygen is abundant in the plains as compared to high altitudes.

Multiple choice

Match the components of air given under left column with their characteristics given under right column in the table given below.

 
Components of air Characteristics
1. Nitrogen a. cause rain on condensing
2. Oxygen b. used by green plants to manufacture food
3. Inert gases c. very unreactive
4. Carbon dioxide d. used in the process of respiration
5 Water vapours e. major component of air

  1. 1 - e, 2 - d, 3 - c, 4 - b, 5 - a

  2. 1 - a, 2 - b, 3 - c, 4 - d, 5 - e

  3. 1 - a, 2 - d, 3 - c, 4 - b, 5 - e

  4. 1 - e, 2 - b, 3 - c, 4 - d, 5 - a
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Nitrogen is the main component of air and oxuygen is used in the process of respiration and green plants used carbon dioxide for food manufacturing.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is NOT true?

  1. If velocity of wind is high, more transpiration occurs.

  2. If outside temperature is low, more transpiration occurs.

  3. Warm air holds more water allowing more transpiration.

  4. Cold air holds less water allowing less transpiration.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Decrease in temperature reduces the rate of transpiration.

Multiple choice

Amount of moisture in the air is called ______

  1. Humidity

  2. Climate

  3. Rancidity

  4. Rain
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Humidity is the measure of water vapor content in the air. Climate refers to long-term weather patterns, rancidity is fat oxidation, and rain is liquid precipitation. Humidity specifically quantifies the amount of moisture present in the atmosphere.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is an example where air pressure is not involved in transportation?

  1. Movement of sailing yacht

  2. Swimming of frogs in water

  3. Flying of birds

  4. Flying of kite

  5. Movement of aeroplanes
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

A frog's webbed feet help it move through the water. The frog's webbed feet are an adaptation that helps a frog swim in the water by pushing the water away and helping the frog propel itself faster through the water. People sometimes wear flippers in the water when swimming for the same reason.