RNR 2102 STUDY GUIDE 2026/2027 QUESTIONS AND
SOLUTIONS RATED A+
✔✔Differential GPS
a. Relies on use of base stations in addition to the GPS receiver
b. The GPS data are adjusted in real time
c. Generally results in increased accuracy of geographic fixes
d. All of the above
e. None of the above - ✔✔D
✔✔A ___ is a smooth, mathematical representation of the Earth's surface that best fits
the global mean sea level. - ✔✔geoid
✔✔A ___ is a set of referenced points against which position measurements were made
- ✔✔geodetic datum
✔✔What are the main differences between NAD27 and NAD83? - ✔✔NAD27
- Based on 25,000 locations
- Referenced to central location (Meades Ranch in Kansas)
NAD83
- Based on 270,000 locations
- Referenced to Earth's center
- Uses GRS80 ellipsoid
✔✔The difference between NAD 83 and WGS84 can be up to 10 meters. - ✔✔F; up to
1m
✔✔What are the 3 most common projections used in North America? What are the
differences among these projections? - ✔✔(?)
NAD27
- Based on 25,000 locations
- Referenced to central location (Meades Ranch in Kansas)
NAD83
- Based on 270,000 locations
- Referenced to Earth's center
- Uses GRS80 ellipsoid
WGS84
- Referenced to earth center
- Uses WGS84 ellipsoid
- Default system for many GPS units
✔✔Convert 40º20'50" latitude into decimal degrees - ✔✔40.347º
, ✔✔Convert 40.3472º into degree-minute-second format. - ✔✔40º20'50"
✔✔List two types of coordinate systems. - ✔✔Cartesian coordinates: uses x&y readings
(in m)
Geographic coordinates: Uses lat-long (in deg)
✔✔UTM divides the earth into _____ zones and the contiguous US into _____ zones. -
✔✔60, 10
✔✔A GIS provides four basic capabilities. What are they? - ✔✔Data input, data
management, data manipulation & analysis, output
✔✔What is a dangling arc? an island? metadata? - ✔✔arc that is not connected to
another arc (dead-end), polygon enclosed completely w/in another polygon, data about
data
✔✔What is a raster model? - ✔✔map divided into square cells or pixels; each cell has a
value that represents conditions for entire area of cell; usually uses aerial or satellite
images; uses lots of memory, DOQQ
✔✔What is a vector model? - ✔✔objects or conditions represented by points, lines, and
polygons that define boundaries, uses less memory
✔✔Name the elements that can be used to recognize an object on an aerial photo -
✔✔- Shape
- Size
- Pattern
- Shadow
- Tone/color
- Texture
- Association
- Site
✔✔The mean is a measure of _________ of the distribution. - ✔✔the center
✔✔The variance is a measure of _________ of the distribution. - ✔✔the spread
✔✔What is the Central Limit Theorem? - ✔✔X ~ unknown distribution (u, o^2)
As n ~ infinity, Xbar ~ N (u, o^2/n)
✔✔What is the significance of the Central Limit Theorem? - ✔✔- For any distribution (x
is not normal)
- For large samples, Xbar is normal, therefore Ho can be tested
SOLUTIONS RATED A+
✔✔Differential GPS
a. Relies on use of base stations in addition to the GPS receiver
b. The GPS data are adjusted in real time
c. Generally results in increased accuracy of geographic fixes
d. All of the above
e. None of the above - ✔✔D
✔✔A ___ is a smooth, mathematical representation of the Earth's surface that best fits
the global mean sea level. - ✔✔geoid
✔✔A ___ is a set of referenced points against which position measurements were made
- ✔✔geodetic datum
✔✔What are the main differences between NAD27 and NAD83? - ✔✔NAD27
- Based on 25,000 locations
- Referenced to central location (Meades Ranch in Kansas)
NAD83
- Based on 270,000 locations
- Referenced to Earth's center
- Uses GRS80 ellipsoid
✔✔The difference between NAD 83 and WGS84 can be up to 10 meters. - ✔✔F; up to
1m
✔✔What are the 3 most common projections used in North America? What are the
differences among these projections? - ✔✔(?)
NAD27
- Based on 25,000 locations
- Referenced to central location (Meades Ranch in Kansas)
NAD83
- Based on 270,000 locations
- Referenced to Earth's center
- Uses GRS80 ellipsoid
WGS84
- Referenced to earth center
- Uses WGS84 ellipsoid
- Default system for many GPS units
✔✔Convert 40º20'50" latitude into decimal degrees - ✔✔40.347º
, ✔✔Convert 40.3472º into degree-minute-second format. - ✔✔40º20'50"
✔✔List two types of coordinate systems. - ✔✔Cartesian coordinates: uses x&y readings
(in m)
Geographic coordinates: Uses lat-long (in deg)
✔✔UTM divides the earth into _____ zones and the contiguous US into _____ zones. -
✔✔60, 10
✔✔A GIS provides four basic capabilities. What are they? - ✔✔Data input, data
management, data manipulation & analysis, output
✔✔What is a dangling arc? an island? metadata? - ✔✔arc that is not connected to
another arc (dead-end), polygon enclosed completely w/in another polygon, data about
data
✔✔What is a raster model? - ✔✔map divided into square cells or pixels; each cell has a
value that represents conditions for entire area of cell; usually uses aerial or satellite
images; uses lots of memory, DOQQ
✔✔What is a vector model? - ✔✔objects or conditions represented by points, lines, and
polygons that define boundaries, uses less memory
✔✔Name the elements that can be used to recognize an object on an aerial photo -
✔✔- Shape
- Size
- Pattern
- Shadow
- Tone/color
- Texture
- Association
- Site
✔✔The mean is a measure of _________ of the distribution. - ✔✔the center
✔✔The variance is a measure of _________ of the distribution. - ✔✔the spread
✔✔What is the Central Limit Theorem? - ✔✔X ~ unknown distribution (u, o^2)
As n ~ infinity, Xbar ~ N (u, o^2/n)
✔✔What is the significance of the Central Limit Theorem? - ✔✔- For any distribution (x
is not normal)
- For large samples, Xbar is normal, therefore Ho can be tested
