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Atmospheric pressure is exclusively caused by the planet's rotation, with gravitational attraction playing a minor role.
Answer: False
Explanation: Atmospheric pressure is fundamentally caused by the gravitational attraction of the planet on its atmospheric gases, while planetary rotation is a modifying factor, not the exclusive cause.
The standard atmosphere (atm) is defined as 101,325 Pascals, which is equivalent to 760 millimeters of mercury.
Answer: True
Explanation: The standard atmosphere (atm) is indeed defined as 101,325 Pascals and is equivalent to 760 millimeters of mercury, among other units.
The SI unit for pressure is the Pascal, defined as one newton per square meter.
Answer: True
Explanation: The Pascal (Pa) is the SI unit for pressure, defined as one newton per square meter (1 N/m²).
A column of air with a cross-sectional area of 1 square inch at mean sea level exerts a pressure of approximately 14.7 pounds per square inch (psi).
Answer: True
Explanation: A column of air with a cross-sectional area of 1 square inch at mean sea level exerts a weight of about 14.7 pounds-force, resulting in a pressure of 14.7 psi.
Surface pressure is directly proportional to the total mass of air situated above a particular location.
Answer: True
Explanation: Surface pressure is directly proportional to the total mass of the air column situated vertically above that particular location, as described by the formula P = (m*g)/A.
The average value of surface pressure on Earth is 1,013.25 hPa, which is identical to the mean sea-level pressure in the International Standard Atmosphere.
Answer: False
Explanation: The average value of surface pressure on Earth is approximately 985 hPa, which differs from the theoretical mean sea-level pressure of 1,013.25 hPa in the International Standard Atmosphere.
Pressure, mass, and acceleration due to gravity are related by the formula P = (m*g)/A, where A is the surface area.
Answer: True
Explanation: The formula P = (m*g)/A correctly expresses the relationship between pressure, mass, acceleration due to gravity, and surface area.
Atmospheric pressure is also known as air pressure or barometric pressure, with barometric pressure specifically referencing the barometer.
Answer: True
Explanation: Atmospheric pressure is indeed known as air pressure or barometric pressure, with the latter term specifically referring to the use of a barometer for measurement.
The Earth's atmospheric pressure at mean sea level is approximately 101,325 hectopascals.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Earth's atmospheric pressure at mean sea level is approximately 101,325 Pascals, which is equivalent to 1,013.25 hectopascals, not 101,325 hectopascals.
In most situations, atmospheric pressure is closely approximated by the hydrostatic pressure, which is the pressure caused by the weight of the column of air directly above the measurement point.
Answer: True
Explanation: Atmospheric pressure is closely approximated by the hydrostatic pressure, which is the pressure caused by the weight of the column of air directly above the measurement point.
Which of the following is NOT an alternative name for atmospheric pressure mentioned in the source?
Answer: Environmental pressure
Explanation: The source identifies 'air pressure' and 'barometric pressure' as alternative names for atmospheric pressure. 'Hydrostatic pressure' is a concept that approximates atmospheric pressure, but not an alternative name for it in the same sense. 'Environmental pressure' is not mentioned.
How many Pascals (Pa) are equivalent to one standard atmosphere (atm)?
Answer: 101,325 Pa
Explanation: One standard atmosphere (atm) is defined as 101,325 Pascals (Pa).
What is the approximate atmospheric pressure at mean sea level on Earth in hectopascals?
Answer: 1,013.25 hPa
Explanation: The Earth's atmospheric pressure at mean sea level is approximately 1,013.25 hectopascals.
What concept closely approximates atmospheric pressure in most situations?
Answer: Hydrostatic pressure, caused by the weight of the air column above.
Explanation: In most situations, atmospheric pressure is closely approximated by the hydrostatic pressure, which is the pressure caused by the weight of the air column directly above the measurement point.
What is the SI unit for pressure, and how is it defined?
Answer: Pascal (Pa), defined as 1 newton per square meter.
Explanation: The SI unit for pressure is the Pascal (Pa), which is defined as one newton per square meter (1 N/m²).
What is the approximate mass of a column of air with a cross-sectional area of 1 square centimeter from mean sea level to the top of Earth's atmosphere?
Answer: 1.03 kilograms
Explanation: A column of air with a cross-sectional area of 1 square centimeter from mean sea level to the top of Earth's atmosphere has an approximate mass of 1.03 kilograms.
What is the fundamental cause of atmospheric pressure?
Answer: The gravitational attraction of the planet on atmospheric gases.
Explanation: Atmospheric pressure is fundamentally caused by the gravitational attraction of the planet on its atmospheric gases.
Which of the following is NOT listed as a factor that can modify atmospheric pressure?
Answer: Ocean currents
Explanation: The source lists planetary rotation, wind velocity, and variations in density due to temperature changes as factors that can modify atmospheric pressure, but not ocean currents.
What is the average sea-level pressure in inches of mercury (inHg)?
Answer: 29.921 inHg
Explanation: The average sea-level pressure is 29.921 inches of mercury (inHg).
What is surface pressure directly proportional to?
Answer: The total mass of air situated above that particular location.
Explanation: Surface pressure is directly proportional to the total mass of the air column situated vertically above that particular location.
What is the average value of surface pressure on Earth?
Answer: 985 hPa
Explanation: The average value of surface pressure on Earth is approximately 985 hPa.
What is the approximate force exerted by a column of air with a cross-sectional area of 1 square centimeter at mean sea level?
Answer: 10.1 Newtons
Explanation: A column of air with a cross-sectional area of 1 square centimeter at mean sea level exerts a force of approximately 10.1 newtons.
As elevation increases, atmospheric pressure generally increases due to a greater column of air above the measurement point.
Answer: False
Explanation: Atmospheric pressure generally decreases with increasing elevation because there is less overlying atmospheric mass, not more.
Air pressure on mountains is generally higher than at sea level because there is more air mass above them.
Answer: False
Explanation: Air pressure on mountains is generally lower than at sea level because there is less overlying air mass at higher elevations.
Atmospheric pressure varies smoothly from the Earth's surface up to the top of the mesosphere, showing a continuous increase with altitude.
Answer: False
Explanation: Atmospheric pressure varies smoothly with altitude, but it shows a continuous decrease, not increase, with increasing altitude.
Temperature and humidity are irrelevant for computing accurate atmospheric pressure figures.
Answer: False
Explanation: Temperature and humidity are crucial for computing accurate atmospheric pressure figures because they influence air density.
At low altitudes, pressure decreases by approximately 1.2 kPa for every 100 meters of ascent.
Answer: True
Explanation: At low altitudes above sea level, pressure decreases by about 1.2 kPa (12 hPa) for every 100 meters of ascent.
The barometric formula is used to relate atmospheric pressure to altitude for all altitudes, including those beyond the troposphere.
Answer: False
Explanation: The barometric formula is used to mathematically relate atmospheric pressure to altitude specifically within the troposphere, not for all altitudes.
One atmosphere of pressure is equivalent to the pressure exerted by a column of freshwater approximately 33.8 feet deep.
Answer: True
Explanation: One atmosphere of pressure is equivalent to the pressure exerted by a column of freshwater approximately 10.3 meters (33.8 ft) deep.
A diver at 10.3 meters underwater experiences a total pressure of one atmosphere.
Answer: False
Explanation: A diver 10.3 meters underwater experiences a total pressure of approximately two atmospheres (one from the air and one from the water column).
The maximum height to which water can be raised using suction under standard atmospheric conditions is 10.3 meters.
Answer: True
Explanation: Under standard atmospheric conditions, 10.3 meters is the maximum height to which water can be raised using suction, as this height corresponds to the pressure of one atmosphere.
Pure water boils at 212 °F at Earth's standard atmospheric pressure.
Answer: True
Explanation: Pure water boils at 100 °C (212 °F) at Earth's standard atmospheric pressure.
The boiling point of a liquid is defined as the temperature at which its vapor pressure becomes lower than the surrounding atmospheric pressure.
Answer: False
Explanation: The boiling point of a liquid is defined as the temperature at which its vapor pressure becomes equal to the surrounding atmospheric pressure.
To evaporate a liquid at a lower temperature, such as in distillation, atmospheric pressure can be increased using a vacuum pump.
Answer: False
Explanation: To evaporate a liquid at a lower temperature, such as in distillation, atmospheric pressure must be lowered using a vacuum pump.
In the mid-19th century, explorers used the boiling temperature of water to estimate elevation, as boiling point decreases predictably with altitude.
Answer: True
Explanation: Explorers in the mid-19th century indeed used the boiling temperature of water to estimate elevation, leveraging the predictable decrease in boiling point with altitude due to lower atmospheric pressure.
How does atmospheric pressure change with increasing elevation?
Answer: It decreases due to less overlying atmospheric mass.
Explanation: As elevation increases, there is less overlying atmospheric mass, causing atmospheric pressure to decrease.
How does air pressure on mountains compare to air pressure at sea level?
Answer: It is generally lower due to less overlying air mass.
Explanation: Air pressure on mountains is generally lower than at sea level because there is less overlying air mass at higher elevations.
What two additional factors, besides altitude, are necessary to compute an accurate atmospheric pressure figure?
Answer: Temperature and humidity
Explanation: Temperature and humidity are necessary factors, in addition to altitude, for computing an accurate atmospheric pressure figure because they influence air density.
At low altitudes above sea level, by approximately how much does pressure decrease for every 100 meters of ascent?
Answer: 12 hPa
Explanation: At low altitudes above sea level, pressure decreases by approximately 1.2 kPa (12 hPa) for every 100 meters of ascent.
What is the primary purpose of the barometric formula?
Answer: To mathematically relate atmospheric pressure to altitude within the troposphere.
Explanation: The barometric formula is primarily used to mathematically relate atmospheric pressure to altitude specifically within the troposphere.
How deep would a column of freshwater need to be to exert a pressure equivalent to one atmosphere?
Answer: Approximately 10.3 meters
Explanation: One atmosphere of pressure is equivalent to the pressure exerted by a column of freshwater approximately 10.3 meters deep.
What total pressure does a diver experience at 10.3 meters underwater?
Answer: 2 atmospheres
Explanation: A diver 10.3 meters underwater experiences a total pressure of approximately 2 atmospheres (one from the air and one from the water column).
What is the maximum height to which water can be raised using suction under standard atmospheric conditions?
Answer: 10.3 meters
Explanation: Under standard atmospheric conditions, the maximum height to which water can be raised using suction is 10.3 meters.
At what temperature does pure water boil at Earth's standard atmospheric pressure?
Answer: 100 °C (212 °F)
Explanation: Pure water boils at 100 °C (212 °F) at Earth's standard atmospheric pressure.
How is the boiling point of a liquid defined in relation to atmospheric pressure?
Answer: The temperature at which its vapor pressure becomes equal to the surrounding atmospheric pressure.
Explanation: The boiling point of a liquid is defined as the temperature at which its vapor pressure becomes equal to the surrounding atmospheric pressure.
What is a practical implication of atmospheric pressure affecting the boiling point of liquids?
Answer: Recipes for cooking at high elevations need adjustments because water boils at a lower temperature.
Explanation: A practical implication is that recipes for cooking at high elevations need adjustments because water boils at a lower temperature due to reduced atmospheric pressure.
How can atmospheric pressure be manipulated to evaporate a liquid at a lower temperature, such as during distillation?
Answer: By lowering the atmospheric pressure using a vacuum pump.
Explanation: To evaporate a liquid at a lower temperature, such as during distillation, atmospheric pressure can be lowered using a vacuum pump.
The highest sea-level pressure on Earth typically occurs in the Amazon basin due to its dense rainforests.
Answer: False
Explanation: The highest sea-level pressure on Earth typically occurs in Siberia, not the Amazon basin.
The lowest measurable sea-level pressure is exclusively found at the centers of tornadoes.
Answer: False
Explanation: The lowest measurable sea-level pressure is found at the centers of both tropical cyclones and tornadoes.
Atmospheric pressure exhibits a diurnal or semidiurnal cycle due to global atmospheric tides driven by solar heating.
Answer: True
Explanation: Atmospheric pressure does exhibit diurnal or semidiurnal cycles, which are caused by global atmospheric tides driven by solar heating.
The effects of atmospheric tides are strongest in polar areas and weakest in tropical zones.
Answer: False
Explanation: The effects of atmospheric tides are strongest in tropical zones and almost zero in polar areas.
Local atmospheric pressure variations are characterized by a single 24-hour circadian cycle.
Answer: False
Explanation: Local atmospheric pressure variations are characterized by two superimposed cycles: a circadian (24-hour) cycle and a semi-circadian (12-hour) cycle.
The highest adjusted-to-sea level barometric pressure ever recorded above 750 meters occurred in Tosontsengel, Mongolia, in 2001.
Answer: True
Explanation: The highest adjusted-to-sea level barometric pressure ever recorded above 750 meters was 1,084.8 hPa in Tosontsengel, Mongolia, on December 19, 2001.
The discrimination in reporting highest barometric pressure records based on elevation is primarily for historical archiving purposes.
Answer: False
Explanation: The discrimination in reporting highest barometric pressure records based on elevation is due to problematic assumptions associated with reducing sea level pressure from high elevations, which can introduce inaccuracies.
The Dead Sea has a notably high atmospheric pressure of 1,065 hPa because it is the lowest place on Earth, resulting in a greater column of air above it.
Answer: True
Explanation: The Dead Sea, being the lowest place on Earth, has a greater column of air above it, leading to its notably high atmospheric pressure of 1,065 hPa.
The lowest non-tornadic atmospheric pressure ever measured was 870 hPa, recorded during Hurricane Wilma in 2005.
Answer: False
Explanation: The lowest non-tornadic atmospheric pressure ever measured was 870 hPa, but it was recorded during Typhoon Tip in 1979, not Hurricane Wilma.
Where on Earth does the highest sea-level pressure typically occur?
Answer: In Siberia
Explanation: The highest sea-level pressure on Earth typically occurs in Siberia.
What is the lowest measurable sea-level pressure typically found?
Answer: At the centers of tropical cyclones and tornadoes
Explanation: The lowest measurable sea-level pressure is found at the centers of tropical cyclones and tornadoes.
What causes the diurnal or semidiurnal cycle in atmospheric pressure variations on Earth?
Answer: Global atmospheric tides driven by solar heating.
Explanation: The diurnal or semidiurnal cycle in atmospheric pressure variations is caused by global atmospheric tides driven by solar heating.
Where are the effects of atmospheric tides strongest?
Answer: In tropical zones
Explanation: The effects of atmospheric tides are strongest in tropical zones.
What two superimposed cycles characterize local atmospheric pressure variations?
Answer: Circadian and semi-circadian cycles
Explanation: Local atmospheric pressure variations are characterized by two superimposed cycles: a circadian (24-hour) cycle and a semi-circadian (12-hour) cycle.
What was the highest adjusted-to-sea level barometric pressure ever recorded on Earth above 750 meters?
Answer: 1,084.8 hPa
Explanation: The highest adjusted-to-sea level barometric pressure ever recorded above 750 meters was 1,084.8 hPa.
Why is there a discrimination in reporting highest barometric pressure records based on elevation (above or below 750 meters)?
Answer: Due to problematic assumptions in reducing sea level pressure from high elevations.
Explanation: The discrimination in reporting highest barometric pressure records based on elevation is due to problematic assumptions, such as assuming a standard lapse rate, associated with reducing sea level pressure from high elevations.
What is the typical atmospheric pressure at the Dead Sea, and why is it high?
Answer: 1,065 hPa, due to a greater column of air above it as the lowest place on Earth.
Explanation: The Dead Sea, being the lowest place on Earth, has a greater column of air above it, leading to its notably high atmospheric pressure of 1,065 hPa.
What was the lowest non-tornadic atmospheric pressure ever measured, and during which event did it occur?
Answer: 870 hPa during Typhoon Tip.
Explanation: The lowest non-tornadic atmospheric pressure ever measured was 870 hPa, recorded during Typhoon Tip in 1979.
Mean Sea-Level Pressure (MSLP) is primarily used by pilots to calibrate altimeters, not commonly provided in general weather reports.
Answer: False
Explanation: Mean Sea-Level Pressure (MSLP) is the atmospheric pressure value commonly provided in general weather reports by meteorologists, while altimeter settings (QNH) are used by pilots.
In aviation weather reports (METAR), QNH is transmitted globally in inches of mercury, except in the United States, Canada, and Japan where it's in hectopascals.
Answer: False
Explanation: In METAR reports, QNH is transmitted globally in hectopascals or millibars, but in the United States, Canada, and Japan, it is reported in inches of mercury.
Atmospheric models like GCMs typically predict the non-dimensional logarithm of surface pressure for numerical stability.
Answer: True
Explanation: For computational stability and efficiency, atmospheric models like General Circulation Models (GCMs) typically predict the non-dimensional logarithm of surface pressure.
Low pressures in natural gas lines are sometimes specified in 'inches of mercury' gauge.
Answer: False
Explanation: Low pressures in natural gas lines are sometimes specified in 'inches of water' gauge (w.c. or w.g.), not inches of mercury.
Nevil Maskelyne and William Roy used barometric pressure to confirm height determinations during the Schiehallion experiment in 1774, with their results agreeing within one meter.
Answer: True
Explanation: During the 1774 Schiehallion experiment, William Roy used barometric pressure to confirm Nevil Maskelyne's height determinations, achieving agreement within one meter.
An altimeter setting in aviation is used to adjust altimeters for accurate altitude readings relative to a specific reference point, but not sea level.
Answer: False
Explanation: An altimeter setting in aviation is used to adjust altimeters for accurate altitude readings relative to sea level or a specific reference point.
How is the altimeter setting (QNH) reported in aviation weather reports (METAR) in the United States, Canada, and Japan?
Answer: In inches of mercury
Explanation: In the United States, Canada, and Japan, the altimeter setting (QNH) in METAR reports is reported in inches of mercury.
Why do atmospheric models like General Circulation Models (GCMs) typically predict the non-dimensional logarithm of surface pressure?
Answer: To improve model stability and simplify calculations.
Explanation: Atmospheric models like GCMs typically predict the non-dimensional logarithm of surface pressure for numerical reasons, specifically to simplify calculations and improve model stability.
How are low pressures in natural gas lines sometimes specified?
Answer: In inches of water gauge (w.g.)
Explanation: Low pressures in natural gas lines are sometimes specified in 'inches of water' gauge (w.g.).
In 1774, who used barometric pressure to confirm height determinations during the Schiehallion experiment?
Answer: William Roy
Explanation: In 1774, William Roy used barometric pressure to confirm height determinations during the Schiehallion experiment.
In the United States and Canada, how is sea-level pressure (SLP) reported in weather code remarks?
Answer: In hectopascals or millibars, with decimal points and most significant digits omitted.
Explanation: In the United States and Canada, sea-level pressure (SLP) is reported in weather code remarks in hectopascals or millibars, with decimal points and most significant digits omitted.