Physics · Geography

Atmospheric Physics and Humidity

878 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

When we open a container of perfume, the smell of the perfume spreads in the room within a short period due to

  1. sublimation

  2. evaporation

  3. diffusion

  4. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The smell of the perfume spreads in the room within a short period due to diffusion. Diffusion is the net movement of molecules or atoms from a region of high concentration (or high chemical potential) to a region of low concentration (or low chemical potential). The rate of diffusion of liquids is higher than that of solids. This is due to the fact that in the liquid state, particles move freely and have greater space between each other as compared to particles in the solid state.

Multiple choice

A man feels unpleasant due to excessive humidity and warmth. The reason is

  1. more sweating

  2. less sweating

  3. sweat does not evaporate due to humidity

  4. sweat is not formed due to humidity
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

High humidity prevents sweat from evaporating, which is the body's primary cooling mechanism. When sweat doesn't evaporate, the body cannot cool effectively, causing discomfort. The body still produces sweat (option D is wrong), but it accumulates on the skin instead of evaporating. Less sweating (option B) would not cause discomfort.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is incorrect for environment?

  1. It includes only physical factors of surroundings.

  2. Water and air are the physical factors of an environment.

  3. Gas, light and temperature are its physical factors.

  4. It is a natural habitat for some animals.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Statement A is incorrect because the environment includes BOTH physical (abiotic) factors AND living (biotic) organisms. Options B, C, and D correctly identify physical factors and acknowledge that environment provides habitat for animals.

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

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 present in the air. Climate refers to long-term weather patterns, not instantaneous moisture content. Rancidity refers to food spoilage, and rain is liquid precipitation, not water vapor in the atmosphere.

Multiple choice

Which of the following best explains the word ‘cloud’?

  1. Densely accumulated mixture of gases in the atmosphere

  2. Visible mass of liquid droplets suspended in the atmosphere

  3. Suspended particles in air assemble together to form a white or black mass

  4. Gathering of various chemicals in air at one place for reacting with each other and releasing water
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Cloud is the visible mass of liquid droplets made of water and various chemicals suspended in the atmosphere above the surface of a planetary body. 

Multiple choice

Why condensation on a glass window is an unwanted phenomenon?

  1. It causes fungal diseases.

  2. It interferes with clear view from the window.

  3. It changes the room temperature significantly.

  4. It affects the glamorous look of the interior.

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Condensation is undesirable on windows mainly because it is one of the major causes of respiratory infections by fungi. 

Multiple choice

Which of the following produces water vapour?

  1. Refrigeration of water

  2. Bursting of a balloon

  3. Sublimation of ice

  4. Spraying perfume on a fabric

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Vapour is the gaseous phase of water. The major sources of vapour are boiling, evaporation, and sublimation. 

Multiple choice

Consider the following statements:

  1. A body will weigh less in air than in vacuum, when weighed with a spring balance.
  2. When a barometer is taken to a mine, the height of mercury column increases.

Which of the given statements is/are correct?

  1. Only (1)

  2. Only (2)

  3. Both (1) & (2)

  4. Neither (1) nor (2)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

(i) Statement (1) is correct. Body will weigh more in vacuum as there is no up thrust in vacuum. In air, the air column offers an up thrust and so there is an apparent loss of weight when weighed in air. (ii) Statement (2) is correct. When a barometer is taken to a mine the pressure increases. In a mine, the gases present are denser so the pressure is more. Hence, the height of mercury column increases.

Multiple choice

In a cold day the smoke spreads in a flat layer above the icy cold river rather than rising and dissipating into the atmosphere. It is due to

  1. the decrease in temperature

  2. the increase in temperature

  3. the inversion of temperature

  4. rapid and sudden fall in tempreture over the river.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The atmosphere above a icy cold river depicts inversion of temperature with warm air at the top and cold air near the surface of the river. Warm moist air does rise above a river but expands and cools down and as condensation occurs the air becomes denser and it sinks to lower levels with warm air at the top. If the rising smoke is denser than the upper warm air, it is not able to rise further but spreads out in flat layers.