ACT Science Quiz Flashcards

The presence of gases in earth’s atmosphere is a constant. Certain gases can absorb and hold onto heat from their environment. These gases are typically comprised of three molecules held together tenuously, which causes them to vibrate when they absorb heat. The motion of their vibrations leads to the release of their stored heat to the outside environment. The heat they release is typically quickly absorbed by other similar gases nearby. These gases remain in earth’s atmosphere for a long time after being introduced. Because of this they can trap heat within the atmosphere, preventing it from leaving, by absorbing heat and releasing heat to be absorbed by other nearby similar gases. Hypothesis 1 Gases such as methane and nitrous oxide trap heat in the earth’s atmosphere. Trapping heat in the earth’s atmosphere leads to a greenhouse effect, gradually increasing the temperature of the earth. This increase in the earth’s temperature will lead to the melting of glaciers, increasing sea level. Hypothesis 2 Gases such as methane but not nitrous oxide trap heat in the earth’s atmosphere. The heat methane traps in the earth’s atmosphere is less than the heat that escapes the earth leading to a global cooling effect, gradually decreasing the temperature of the earth. This decrease in earth’s temperature will lead to the development of more glaciers, decreasing sea level. Hypothesis 3 Gases such as nitrous oxide but not methane trap heat in the earth’s atmosphere. The heat nitrous oxide traps in the earth’s atmosphere is equal to the heat that escapes the earth leaving the temperature of the earth generally unchanged. The earth’s environment will remain largely unchanged by the heat trapping properties of nitrous oxide. 1. Which hypothesis, if any, asserts that the effect on temperature of heat trapping gases is negligible?

Answer: Hypothesis 3

Hypothesis 3 states that 'The heat nitrous oxide traps in the earth’s atmosphere is equal to the heat that escapes the earth leaving the temperature of the earth generally unchanged.' This explicitly describes a scenario where the net effect on temperature is negligible, as the heat trapped balances the heat escaping, resulting in no significant temperature change.

The presence of gases in earth’s atmosphere is a constant. Certain gases can absorb and hold onto heat from their environment. These gases are typically comprised of three molecules held together tenuously, which causes them to vibrate when they absorb heat. The motion of their vibrations leads to the release of their stored heat to the outside environment. The heat they release is typically quickly absorbed by other similar gases nearby. These gases remain in earth’s atmosphere for a long time after being introduced. Because of this they can trap heat within the atmosphere, preventing it from leaving, by absorbing heat and releasing heat to be absorbed by other nearby similar gases. Hypothesis 1 Gases such as methane and nitrous oxide trap heat in the earth’s atmosphere. Trapping heat in the earth’s atmosphere leads to a greenhouse effect, gradually increasing the temperature of the earth. This increase in the earth’s temperature will lead to the melting of glaciers, increasing sea level. Hypothesis 2 Gases such as methane but not nitrous oxide trap heat in the earth’s atmosphere. The heat methane traps in the earth’s atmosphere is less than the heat that escapes the earth leading to a global cooling effect, gradually decreasing the temperature of the earth. This decrease in earth’s temperature will lead to the development of more glaciers, decreasing sea level. Hypothesis 3 Gases such as nitrous oxide but not methane trap heat in the earth’s atmosphere. The heat nitrous oxide traps in the earth’s atmosphere is equal to the heat that escapes the earth leaving the temperature of the earth generally unchanged. The earth’s environment will remain largely unchanged by the heat trapping properties of nitrous oxide. 2. Which hypothesis, if any, asserts that the effects of methane but not nitrous oxide will increase sea levels?

Answer: None of the hypotheses

Let's examine each hypothesis: Hypothesis 1 states that methane *and* nitrous oxide trap heat, leading to increased temperature and melting glaciers, thus increasing sea levels. Hypothesis 2 states methane (but not nitrous oxide) traps heat, leading to a global cooling effect and *decreasing* sea levels. Hypothesis 3 states nitrous oxide (but not methane) traps heat, with no change in temperature or environment, thus no effect on sea levels. None of the hypotheses assert that methane *alone* would increase sea levels.

The presence of gases in earth’s atmosphere is a constant. Certain gases can absorb and hold onto heat from their environment. These gases are typically comprised of three molecules held together tenuously, which causes them to vibrate when they absorb heat. The motion of their vibrations leads to the release of their stored heat to the outside environment. The heat they release is typically quickly absorbed by other similar gases nearby. These gases remain in earth’s atmosphere for a long time after being introduced. Because of this they can trap heat within the atmosphere, preventing it from leaving, by absorbing heat and releasing heat to be absorbed by other nearby similar gases. Hypothesis 1 Gases such as methane and nitrous oxide trap heat in the earth’s atmosphere. Trapping heat in the earth’s atmosphere leads to a greenhouse effect, gradually increasing the temperature of the earth. This increase in the earth’s temperature will lead to the melting of glaciers, increasing sea level. Hypothesis 2 Gases such as methane but not nitrous oxide trap heat in the earth’s atmosphere. The heat methane traps in the earth’s atmosphere is less than the heat that escapes the earth leading to a global cooling effect, gradually decreasing the temperature of the earth. This decrease in earth’s temperature will lead to the development of more glaciers, decreasing sea level. Hypothesis 3 Gases such as nitrous oxide but not methane trap heat in the earth’s atmosphere. The heat nitrous oxide traps in the earth’s atmosphere is equal to the heat that escapes the earth leaving the temperature of the earth generally unchanged. The earth’s environment will remain largely unchanged by the heat trapping properties of nitrous oxide. 3. According to the author of hypothesis 2, would it be possible for earth’s temperature to increase if the amount of heat methane traps in the atmosphere increased?

Answer: Yes, the hypothesis claims methane isn’t currently trapping a sufficient quantity of heat

Hypothesis 2 states, 'The heat methane traps in the earth’s atmosphere is less than the heat that escapes the earth leading to a global cooling effect.' This implies that the current amount of heat trapped by methane is insufficient to cause warming. If the amount of heat methane traps *increased* to a level greater than or equal to the heat escaping, then, according to the logic of this hypothesis, it would be possible for the earth's temperature to increase or at least stop decreasing.

The presence of gases in earth’s atmosphere is a constant. Certain gases can absorb and hold onto heat from their environment. These gases are typically comprised of three molecules held together tenuously, which causes them to vibrate when they absorb heat. The motion of their vibrations leads to the release of their stored heat to the outside environment. The heat they release is typically quickly absorbed by other similar gases nearby. These gases remain in earth’s atmosphere for a long time after being introduced. Because of this they can trap heat within the atmosphere, preventing it from leaving, by absorbing heat and releasing heat to be absorbed by other nearby similar gases. Hypothesis 1 Gases such as methane and nitrous oxide trap heat in the earth’s atmosphere. Trapping heat in the earth’s atmosphere leads to a greenhouse effect, gradually increasing the temperature of the earth. This increase in the earth’s temperature will lead to the melting of glaciers, increasing sea level. Hypothesis 2 Gases such as methane but not nitrous oxide trap heat in the earth’s atmosphere. The heat methane traps in the earth’s atmosphere is less than the heat that escapes the earth leading to a global cooling effect, gradually decreasing the temperature of the earth. This decrease in earth’s temperature will lead to the development of more glaciers, decreasing sea level. Hypothesis 3 Gases such as nitrous oxide but not methane trap heat in the earth’s atmosphere. The heat nitrous oxide traps in the earth’s atmosphere is equal to the heat that escapes the earth leaving the temperature of the earth generally unchanged. The earth’s environment will remain largely unchanged by the heat trapping properties of nitrous oxide. 4. Which statement, if true, would disprove hypothesis 3?

Answer: When the heat trapping effects of both nitrous oxide and the gas carbon dioxide are considered, more heat is trapped in the earth than escapes from

Hypothesis 3 claims that the heat trapped by nitrous oxide is *equal* to the heat that escapes, resulting in the earth's temperature remaining 'generally unchanged'. Statement C directly contradicts this by proposing a scenario where, when considering nitrous oxide and other gases like carbon dioxide, *more* heat is trapped than escapes. If more heat is trapped than escapes, the earth's temperature would increase, directly disproving the hypothesis's core assertion of temperature stability due to nitrous oxide's heat balance.

The presence of gases in earth’s atmosphere is a constant. Certain gases can absorb and hold onto heat from their environment. These gases are typically comprised of three molecules held together tenuously, which causes them to vibrate when they absorb heat. The motion of their vibrations leads to the release of their stored heat to the outside environment. The heat they release is typically quickly absorbed by other similar gases nearby. These gases remain in earth’s atmosphere for a long time after being introduced. Because of this they can trap heat within the atmosphere, preventing it from leaving, by absorbing heat and releasing heat to be absorbed by other nearby similar gases. Hypothesis 1 Gases such as methane and nitrous oxide trap heat in the earth’s atmosphere. Trapping heat in the earth’s atmosphere leads to a greenhouse effect, gradually increasing the temperature of the earth. This increase in the earth’s temperature will lead to the melting of glaciers, increasing sea level. Hypothesis 2 Gases such as methane but not nitrous oxide trap heat in the earth’s atmosphere. The heat methane traps in the earth’s atmosphere is less than the heat that escapes the earth leading to a global cooling effect, gradually decreasing the temperature of the earth. This decrease in earth’s temperature will lead to the development of more glaciers, decreasing sea level. Hypothesis 3 Gases such as nitrous oxide but not methane trap heat in the earth’s atmosphere. The heat nitrous oxide traps in the earth’s atmosphere is equal to the heat that escapes the earth leaving the temperature of the earth generally unchanged. The earth’s environment will remain largely unchanged by the heat trapping properties of nitrous oxide. 5. Which hypotheses operate on the assumption that gases have the potential to trap heat in earth’s atmosphere?

Answer: Hypotheses 1, 2, and 3

All three hypotheses, despite their differing conclusions about specific gases or the ultimate effect on global temperature, fundamentally operate on the premise that certain gases have the ability to trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere. Each hypothesis explicitly uses phrases like 'trap heat in the earth’s atmosphere' or 'the heat [gas name] traps' as its foundational assumption. Therefore, this core assumption is common to all of them.

The presence of gases in earth’s atmosphere is a constant. Certain gases can absorb and hold onto heat from their environment. These gases are typically comprised of three molecules held together tenuously, which causes them to vibrate when they absorb heat. The motion of their vibrations leads to the release of their stored heat to the outside environment. The heat they release is typically quickly absorbed by other similar gases nearby. These gases remain in earth’s atmosphere for a long time after being introduced. Because of this they can trap heat within the atmosphere, preventing it from leaving, by absorbing heat and releasing heat to be absorbed by other nearby similar gases. Hypothesis 1 Gases such as methane and nitrous oxide trap heat in the earth’s atmosphere. Trapping heat in the earth’s atmosphere leads to a greenhouse effect, gradually increasing the temperature of the earth. This increase in the earth’s temperature will lead to the melting of glaciers, increasing sea level. Hypothesis 2 Gases such as methane but not nitrous oxide trap heat in the earth’s atmosphere. The heat methane traps in the earth’s atmosphere is less than the heat that escapes the earth leading to a global cooling effect, gradually decreasing the temperature of the earth. This decrease in earth’s temperature will lead to the development of more glaciers, decreasing sea level. Hypothesis 3 Gases such as nitrous oxide but not methane trap heat in the earth’s atmosphere. The heat nitrous oxide traps in the earth’s atmosphere is equal to the heat that escapes the earth leaving the temperature of the earth generally unchanged. The earth’s environment will remain largely unchanged by the heat trapping properties of nitrous oxide. 6. Gasses that exist in the atmosphere remain in it for varying amounts of time. Two gases mentioned in each hypothesis, nitrous oxide and methane, have different ‘lifespans’ in the earth’s atmosphere. How do they relate?

Answer: Nitrous oxide lasts longer than methane

The provided passage describes the general properties of heat-trapping gases but does not contain specific information about the relative atmospheric lifespans of methane and nitrous oxide. This question relies on external scientific knowledge. In reality, nitrous oxide (N2O) has an atmospheric lifetime of approximately 121 years, which is significantly longer than methane (CH4), which lasts about 12 years.