Weather Quiz - Weather Instruments And Fronts

When the atmospheric pressure goes down, it creates a pressure difference between the outside and inside of the device. This pressure difference causes the mercury inside the tube to respond by either going down, increasing or dropping. This is because mercury is a dense liquid and it moves in response to changes in pressure.

Some types of thermometers use the principle of differential expansion of two different metals when heated and cooled. This means that when the temperature increases, one metal expands more than the other, causing a change in the overall length of the thermometer. By measuring this change, the thermometer can accurately determine the temperature. Therefore, the statement "Some types of thermometers actually use the principle that two different metals expand and contract at different rates when they are heated and cooled" is true.

A stationary front occurs when a cold front and a warm front meet but neither is strong enough to push the other out of the way. This results in a boundary where warm and cold air masses remain in place, leading to prolonged periods of unsettled weather. The air near the surface remains stagnant, causing a lack of significant movement in the front. Therefore, the statement "True" accurately describes a stationary front.

Doppler radar works based on the principle of the Doppler effect, which states that the frequency of a wave changes when the source or observer is in motion relative to each other. In the case of Doppler radar, radio waves are emitted towards a moving object, and when these waves bounce off the object and return to the radar, their frequency is altered. If the object is moving towards the radar, the waves are compressed and the frequency increases, while if the object is moving away, the waves are stretched and the frequency decreases. By measuring these frequency changes, Doppler radar can determine the speed and direction of the moving object.

Satellites are unable to measure certain atmospheric factors such as pressure and humidity through different regions of the atmosphere. Therefore, meteorologists still rely on radiosondes (weather balloons) to gather these specific measurements. While satellites have their own advantages, they are not capable of providing the same comprehensive data as radiosondes, making them an essential tool for meteorological research and forecasting.

The weather following behind a cold front is typically cooler because the cold air mass replaces the warm air mass that was present before the front passed. Clear skies are often observed because the cold air is drier and has less moisture to form clouds. Precipitation is unlikely because the cold air is not as conducive to the formation of clouds and precipitation. Therefore, the statement is true.

The explanation for the answer "False" is that the Celsius and Fahrenheit scales on thermometers do not have the same size steps. While both scales measure temperature, the intervals between each degree on the Celsius scale are smaller compared to the Fahrenheit scale. This means that a change of one degree Celsius is equivalent to a smaller change in temperature compared to one degree Fahrenheit. Therefore, the statement that the scales have the same size steps is incorrect.

Doppler radar works by measuring the change in frequency of the radio waves reflected off a moving object. This change in frequency, known as the Doppler effect, allows the radar to determine the object's speed and direction of movement. The statement in the question is incorrect as Doppler radar does not rely on radio waves bouncing in strange directions, but rather on the change in frequency of the reflected waves.

A warm front is a boundary between warm and cold air masses. As the warm air rises over the cold air, it cools and condenses, leading to the formation of clouds and precipitation. However, warm fronts typically bring steady and prolonged rainfall rather than sudden, intense rain in the form of thunderstorms. Thunderstorms are more commonly associated with cold fronts or areas of low pressure. Therefore, the statement that a warm front will bring sudden, intense rain in the form of thunderstorms is false.

The explanation for the given correct answer is that both the Celsius and Kelvin scales on thermometers have the same size steps, meaning that the difference in temperature between each step is the same. However, they start at different points. The Celsius scale starts at 0 degrees, while the Kelvin scale starts at absolute zero, which is -273.15 degrees Celsius. Therefore, the statement is true.

Cumulonimbus clouds are most likely to be found around a cold front. These clouds are large, towering, and dense, often associated with thunderstorms and heavy precipitation. Cold fronts bring in colder air, which can lift warm, moist air rapidly, leading to the formation of cumulonimbus clouds. These clouds have a characteristic anvil-shaped top and can produce severe weather conditions such as lightning, thunder, heavy rain, and even hail. Therefore, cumulonimbus clouds are the most suitable option when considering the cloud type commonly found around a cold front.

During a cold front, rapidly moving cold air forces warm moist air upwards quickly. This is because cold air is denser than warm air, causing it to sink and push the warm air upwards. As the warm air rises, it cools and condenses, leading to the formation of clouds and precipitation. The rapid movement of the cold air enhances the upward movement of the warm moist air, resulting in heavy precipitation during a cold front.

A wind sock can be used to measure wind speed by observing the degree to which the sock flies straight. If the wind is strong, the sock will be pushed in the direction of the wind and will not fly straight. The more it deviates from a straight position, the stronger the wind speed. Therefore, by monitoring the angle at which the wind sock is blown, one can estimate the wind speed.

The sealed glass tube with a vacuum inside stuck into an open topped bowl of mercury creates a barometer, which is a device used to measure atmospheric pressure. Atmospheric pressure is the force per unit area exerted on a surface by the weight of the air above it. As the atmospheric pressure changes, the level of mercury in the tube will rise or fall, indicating the corresponding change in pressure. Therefore, this device is specifically designed for measuring atmospheric pressure.

An occluded front occurs when a cold front overtakes a warm front. This happens when a fast-moving cold air mass catches up to and overtakes a slow-moving warm air mass. As the cold air mass moves forward, it lifts the warm air mass off the ground, causing it to cool and condense. This results in the formation of clouds and precipitation along the front.

A Sling Psychrometer helps measure relative humidity by taking advantage of the fact that rapidly moving air speeds evaporation (option a). This is because when the air is moving quickly, it can carry away the moisture from the wet bulb thermometer, causing it to cool down. The difference in temperature between the wet bulb and dry bulb thermometers can then be used to calculate the relative humidity. Additionally, moister air will have less evaporation than drier air (option c). This means that if the air is already humid, there will be less evaporation from the wet bulb thermometer compared to drier air. Both of these factors contribute to the accuracy of the Sling Psychrometer in measuring relative humidity.