Physics 203 exam 1-Questions 2025/2026 with 100%
Correct Solutions
System
a collection of seemingly separate parts that are actually interrelated to form a common whole
BLANK is a system
earth
Geosphere
the solid part of the earth
hydrosphere
All the water on earth
atmosphere
all the air surrounding the earth
Biosphere
the part of Earth where life exists
What spheres encompass the Earth?
geosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, biosphere
What is Earth Science?
Study of the system called earth
earth combines 5 sciences what r they
,geology, oceanography, meteorology, biology, astronomy
open system
exchanges mater and energy with its surroundings
isolated system
does not exchange matter and energy with its surroundings
closed system
exchanges energy but no matter
in the strict sense earth is a
open system
for practical reasons earth is assumed to be a
closed system (matter ignored)
what is earths internal energy source
geothermal energy
what is earth's most important external source of energy
the Sun
what does the Sun drive
hydrosphere and atmosphere
what does geothermal drive?
,geosphere
what drives biosphere
mostly sun but also little bits of geothermal
sphere
shape with a equatorial and polar radius that is equal to each other
oblate spheroid
equatorial > polar
prolate spheroid
equatorial < polar
What is the true shape of the Earth?
oblate spheroid
why is earth NOT a sphere in strict sense
rotation
centrifugal forces cause the equator to bulge out (and this applies to things in the universe)
closer to the center when standing at poles and further away when standing at the equator
but the CF is very weak so there is only a small bulge so earth can be assumed to be a SPHERE
for practical reasons
for practical reasons earth is assumed to be
a sphere
, great circle
The intersection of a sphere and a plane that cuts the center of the sphere
what is the largest possible circle u can draw on a sphere
great circle
what can we say about the radius of a great circle
it is equal to the radius of the entire sphere
the intersection of a sphere and a tangent plane is
point
point is a circle where the radius is equal to
zero
small circle
intersection of the sphere and plane between the center cutting plane and tangent plane
what does the geographical system label?
Latitude and longitude
latitude
intersection of the earth and a plane that is perpendicular to the earth's rotational axis
what lines are parallel to each other
Latitude ( parallels)
Correct Solutions
System
a collection of seemingly separate parts that are actually interrelated to form a common whole
BLANK is a system
earth
Geosphere
the solid part of the earth
hydrosphere
All the water on earth
atmosphere
all the air surrounding the earth
Biosphere
the part of Earth where life exists
What spheres encompass the Earth?
geosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, biosphere
What is Earth Science?
Study of the system called earth
earth combines 5 sciences what r they
,geology, oceanography, meteorology, biology, astronomy
open system
exchanges mater and energy with its surroundings
isolated system
does not exchange matter and energy with its surroundings
closed system
exchanges energy but no matter
in the strict sense earth is a
open system
for practical reasons earth is assumed to be a
closed system (matter ignored)
what is earths internal energy source
geothermal energy
what is earth's most important external source of energy
the Sun
what does the Sun drive
hydrosphere and atmosphere
what does geothermal drive?
,geosphere
what drives biosphere
mostly sun but also little bits of geothermal
sphere
shape with a equatorial and polar radius that is equal to each other
oblate spheroid
equatorial > polar
prolate spheroid
equatorial < polar
What is the true shape of the Earth?
oblate spheroid
why is earth NOT a sphere in strict sense
rotation
centrifugal forces cause the equator to bulge out (and this applies to things in the universe)
closer to the center when standing at poles and further away when standing at the equator
but the CF is very weak so there is only a small bulge so earth can be assumed to be a SPHERE
for practical reasons
for practical reasons earth is assumed to be
a sphere
, great circle
The intersection of a sphere and a plane that cuts the center of the sphere
what is the largest possible circle u can draw on a sphere
great circle
what can we say about the radius of a great circle
it is equal to the radius of the entire sphere
the intersection of a sphere and a tangent plane is
point
point is a circle where the radius is equal to
zero
small circle
intersection of the sphere and plane between the center cutting plane and tangent plane
what does the geographical system label?
Latitude and longitude
latitude
intersection of the earth and a plane that is perpendicular to the earth's rotational axis
what lines are parallel to each other
Latitude ( parallels)
