EOSC 114 Exam Questions with Correct
Answers
What is a disaster?
A substantial event causing... 1. physical damage, 2. injury or loss of life, 3. a drastic
change to the environment
What is force (F)?
Push or pull that, when applied, overcomes inertia
SI unit is Newton (N), 1 N = 1 (kg x m/s^2)
What is gravity (g)?
A force that attracts matter (i.e. masses) to each other
F=mxg
g = 9.8 (m/s^2)
What is work (W)?
The force that pushes an object times the distance the object moves
W=Fxd
SI unit of work is Joule (J), 1 J = 1 (N x m)
What are the four types of energy? (important for disasters)
1. potential energy
2. kinetic energy
3. sensible heat
4. latent heat
,What is potential energy?
The work needed to raise an object of mass m (in kg) a distance h (in metres) against the
pull of gravity g (9.8 m/s2)
PE = g x m x h
What is kinetic energy?
Energy a moving object possesses
KE = 0.5 x m x v^2
What is sensible heat?
Heat energy that we can sense, feel, or measure.
Sensible heat, when exchanged, can be sensed with a thermometer and changes the
temperature of the body or system (without a change in its physical state).
What is latent heat?
"Hidden" heat energy in chemical bonds between atoms, which is absorbed or released,
to change the state of a substance during melting or boiling.
Latent heat is released as sensible heat to the surroundings when condensing or freezing.
What happens when liquid becomes gaseous?
Heat is taken in from the surroundings
What happens when gases become liquid?
Heat is transferred/released to the surroundings
How are time scales measured for disasters?
,Time for energy to concentrate → time to release
Why are disaster scales based on the order of Magnitude?
Disaster scales quantify intensity using logarithmic scales to the powers of 10 (10^P, where
P indicates intensity)
How are disasters associated with the concentration and dilution of energy?
The intensity of the disaster is based on how much energy is concentrated/built up over time
and how it spreads out/dilutes when it releases.
What is a return period (RP)?
The average number of years between disaster events of the same magnitude (M)
RP(M) = time span of data / number of cases of magnitude
RP(5) = 70 years / 2 cases
RP(5) = 35 years
What is the correlation between the magnitude (intensity) and frequency of disasters?
There is an inverse correlation between frequency and magnitude. low-magnitude events
occur frequently, but high-magnitude occur less frequently.
What is the difference between a hazard and a risk?
A hazard is any event or situation that could cause human or economic harm.
A risk is the probability that any given hazardous event might occur and the chance of
potential loss.
Hazard x vulnerability = risk
What is a vulnerability in a disaster?
, A weakness that could be affected by a disaster
What is overpopulation?
Population that exceeds the carrying capacity
What is carrying capacity?
The population that can be sustainably supported within a given domain.
It depends on resource availability (food, water, and shelter).
The growth rate will decrease as Earth's carrying capacity is approached.
How does population growth relate to disasters?
Population growth, especially increased population
density and urbanisation, increases vulnerability to disasters as infrastructure becomes
more vulnerable and people are less likely to be evacuated due to congestion, dense
infrastructure, and limited escape routes.
What are the differences in the phases of matter?
Solid - not fluid, not compressible
Liquid - fluid, not compressible
Gas - very fluid, very compressible
What is density?
Density = kg / m^3
A subduction zone is where tectonic plates...
extend more deeply into Earth than anywhere else
How to determine population density?
Answers
What is a disaster?
A substantial event causing... 1. physical damage, 2. injury or loss of life, 3. a drastic
change to the environment
What is force (F)?
Push or pull that, when applied, overcomes inertia
SI unit is Newton (N), 1 N = 1 (kg x m/s^2)
What is gravity (g)?
A force that attracts matter (i.e. masses) to each other
F=mxg
g = 9.8 (m/s^2)
What is work (W)?
The force that pushes an object times the distance the object moves
W=Fxd
SI unit of work is Joule (J), 1 J = 1 (N x m)
What are the four types of energy? (important for disasters)
1. potential energy
2. kinetic energy
3. sensible heat
4. latent heat
,What is potential energy?
The work needed to raise an object of mass m (in kg) a distance h (in metres) against the
pull of gravity g (9.8 m/s2)
PE = g x m x h
What is kinetic energy?
Energy a moving object possesses
KE = 0.5 x m x v^2
What is sensible heat?
Heat energy that we can sense, feel, or measure.
Sensible heat, when exchanged, can be sensed with a thermometer and changes the
temperature of the body or system (without a change in its physical state).
What is latent heat?
"Hidden" heat energy in chemical bonds between atoms, which is absorbed or released,
to change the state of a substance during melting or boiling.
Latent heat is released as sensible heat to the surroundings when condensing or freezing.
What happens when liquid becomes gaseous?
Heat is taken in from the surroundings
What happens when gases become liquid?
Heat is transferred/released to the surroundings
How are time scales measured for disasters?
,Time for energy to concentrate → time to release
Why are disaster scales based on the order of Magnitude?
Disaster scales quantify intensity using logarithmic scales to the powers of 10 (10^P, where
P indicates intensity)
How are disasters associated with the concentration and dilution of energy?
The intensity of the disaster is based on how much energy is concentrated/built up over time
and how it spreads out/dilutes when it releases.
What is a return period (RP)?
The average number of years between disaster events of the same magnitude (M)
RP(M) = time span of data / number of cases of magnitude
RP(5) = 70 years / 2 cases
RP(5) = 35 years
What is the correlation between the magnitude (intensity) and frequency of disasters?
There is an inverse correlation between frequency and magnitude. low-magnitude events
occur frequently, but high-magnitude occur less frequently.
What is the difference between a hazard and a risk?
A hazard is any event or situation that could cause human or economic harm.
A risk is the probability that any given hazardous event might occur and the chance of
potential loss.
Hazard x vulnerability = risk
What is a vulnerability in a disaster?
, A weakness that could be affected by a disaster
What is overpopulation?
Population that exceeds the carrying capacity
What is carrying capacity?
The population that can be sustainably supported within a given domain.
It depends on resource availability (food, water, and shelter).
The growth rate will decrease as Earth's carrying capacity is approached.
How does population growth relate to disasters?
Population growth, especially increased population
density and urbanisation, increases vulnerability to disasters as infrastructure becomes
more vulnerable and people are less likely to be evacuated due to congestion, dense
infrastructure, and limited escape routes.
What are the differences in the phases of matter?
Solid - not fluid, not compressible
Liquid - fluid, not compressible
Gas - very fluid, very compressible
What is density?
Density = kg / m^3
A subduction zone is where tectonic plates...
extend more deeply into Earth than anywhere else
How to determine population density?
