Physical Geography
Study Guide Questions
Course Introduction
Physical Geography explores the dynamic processes and natural features of Earths surface, focusing on the interactions between the atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and lithosphere. This course examines landforms, climate systems, weather patterns, vegetation, soils, and the movement of water, emphasizing how these elements shape environments and influence human activity. Through analysis of spatial patterns and Earths physical systems, students gain a foundational understanding of environmental processes and the interdependent nature of global ecosystems.
Recommended Textbook Geosystems An Introduction to Physical Geography 9th Edition by Robert W. Christopherson
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3026 Verified Questions
3026 Flashcards
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Chapter 1: Essentials of Geography
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Sample Questions
Q1) If increased levels of carbon dioxide lead to further increases in temperature by promoting the release of even more carbon dioxide from the oceans, this means a ________ feedback has occurred and that the planet is ________.
A) positive; in equilibrium
B) positive; out of equilibrium
C) negative; in equilibrium
D) negative; out of equilibrium
Answer: B
Q2) Earth's equator is an example of
A) a small circle.
B) a great circle.
C) a prime meridian.
D) a line of equal longitude.
Answer: B
Q3) Areas that display a degree of uniformity are called regions.
A)True
B)False
Answer: True
Q4) List the five principal themes of modern geographic education.
Answer: location; place; region; human-Earth relationship; movement
Page 3
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Chapter 2: Solar Energy to Earth and the Seasons
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Sample Questions
Q1) The Earth radiates energy primarily in the ultraviolet wavelengths.
A)True
B)False
Answer: False
Q2) The dominant wavelength emitted by Earth is
A) gamma radiation.
B) X-ray radiation.
C) visible light.
D) infrared.
Answer: D
Q3) Why is the light year a useful unit of measurement for astronomical distances?
Answer: The size of the universe is vast; the light year is therefore a useful unit of measurement for distances of such galatic scale.
Q4) The thermopause refers to
A) Earth's magnetic field.
B) the solar atmosphere that extends into space.
C) the top of Earth's atmosphere.
D) the Sun's surface.
Answer: C
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Chapter 3: Earths Modern Atmosphere
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Sample Questions
Q1) Which of the following is true of the mesosphere?
A) It contains clouds that are visible at night.
B) Temperatures are uniform through the zone.
C) It is the warmest layer of the atmosphere.
D) It has the greatest vertical extent of all atmospheric layers.
Answer: A
Q2) Which of the following statements about ozone is false?
A) Ozone in the stratosphere protects human health.
B) Ozone in the lower atmosphere protects human health.
C) Stratospheric ozone absorbs harmful radiation.
D) Tropospheric ozone is a component of photochemical smog.
Answer: B
Q3) Anthropogenic air pollution is limited to urban areas.
A)True
B)False
Answer: False
Q4) Weather (rain, fog, storms, etc.) occurs primarily in the troposphere.
A)True
B)False
Answer: True
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Chapter 4: Atmosphere and Surface Energy Balances
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Sample Questions
Q1) A(n) ________ is trapped airborne pollution that can raise temperatures by absorbing insolation and reradiating heat to the surface.
A) urban heat island (UHI)
B) "cool" roof
C) urban canyon effect
D) dust dome
Q2) Continued urbanization will likely worsen the heat-island effects in the coming years.
A)True
B)False
Q3) The energy received in just 35 minutes at the surface of the United States exceeds the amount of energy derived from the burning of fossil fuels in a year.
A)True
B)False
Q4) Kinetic energy is defined as
A) stored energy.
B) energy flow between molecules.
C) the energy of motion.
D) energy gained or lost when a substance changes states.
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Chapter 5: Global Temperatures
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Sample Questions
Q1) Air pressure decreases with increased elevation.
A)True
B)False
Q2) ________ is the general term for the outdoor temperature as it is perceived by humans.
A) Wind chill
B) Latent heat
C) Apparent temperature
D) Sensible heat
Q3) Lines on a temperature map connecting points of equal temperature is called an A) isobar.
B) isohyet.
C) isotherm.
D) isobath.
Q4) The temperature control that includes the heat capacity of a substance is A) movement.
B) evaporation.
C) cloud cover.
D) specific heat.
Q5) Compare, contrast, and explain maritime and continental conditions.
Page 7
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Chapter 6: Atmospheric and Oceanic Circulations
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Sample Questions
Q1) Asian air pollution has been attributed to higher monsoonal wind flow and increased rainfall.
A)True
B)False
Q2) If there is a steeper pressure gradient, wind will be ________than areas with a gradual pressure gradient.
A) lighter
B) warmer
C) stronger
D) cooler
Q3) Light and variable winds-which caused difficulties for mariners in the days of sailing ships-occur under the
A) subpolar low and equatorial low.
B) subpolar low and subtropical high.
C) equatorial low and subtropical high.
D) equatorial low and subpolar low.
Q4) The Coriolis force is greatest at the equator and weakest towards the poles.
A)True
B)False
Q5) Discuss the formation of Rossby waves.
Page 8
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Chapter 7: Water and Atmospheric Moisture
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Sample Questions
Q1) When water evaporates, it ________ heat energy and ________ the surrounding air.
A) absorbs; cools
B) absorbs heats
C) releases; cools
D) releases; heats
Q2) Areas between 25° to 35° latitude usually become ________ because this area is dominated by air that is sinking and being ________.
A) deserts; cooled by expansion
B) deserts; heated by compression
C) rain forests; cooled by expansion
D) rain forests; heated by compression
Q3) Sea smoke refers to
A) smoke plume caused by undersea volcanoes.
B) air pollution over oceans caused by ships.
C) fog that moves from a bay inland.
D) evaporation fog at sea.
Q4) Describe the formative characteristics of advection fogs, valley fog, evaporation fog, and radiation fog along with their usual locations.
Q5) List several of water's unique properties.
Page 9
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Chapter 8: Weather
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Sample Questions
Q1) Air rising forcibly lifted upslope when it meets a topographic barrier such as a mountain is an example of ________ lifting.
A) convergent
B) convectional
C) orographic
D) frontal
Q2) Tropical cyclones
A) are produced by the conflict between air masses and frontal activity.
B) originate entirely within tropical air masses.
C) usually form poleward of 23.5° latitude in either hemisphere.
D) are called hurricanes worldwide.
Q3) Chinook winds form on the leeward side of mountains.
A)True
B)False
Q4) Air masses that migrate far from their source regions become modified in physical characteristics and form secondary air masses.
A)True
B)False
Q5) How do air masses form? What are their general characteristics?
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Chapter 9: Water Resources
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Sample Questions
Q1) A stream which receives water flowing from the surrounding aquifer is known as influent, whereas a streamflow which feeds groundwater is known as effluent.
A)True
B)False
Q2) Water availability per person is expected to increase within the next 50 years.
A)True
B)False
Q3) A water budget is derived from measuring system inputs of precipitation and system outputs of evapotranspiration and runoff.
A)True
B)False
Q4) An artesian well, by definition, requires pumping because there is otherwise not enough pressure to bring the water to the surface.
A)True
B)False
Q5) Sea-level change caused by glacial activity is known as glacioeustasy.
A)True
B)False
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Chapter 10: Global Climate Systems
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Sample Questions
Q1) In terms of total land and ocean area, which of the following climate classifications is the most extensive at 36 percent percent of Earth's surface?
A) tropical climates
B) dry climates
C) mesothermal climates
D) microthermal climates
Q2) Shifting subtropical high pressure systems may create drier conditions in otherwise humid mesothermal climates.
A)True
B)False
Q3) Microthermal climates are characterized by increasing seasonality and greater daily and annual temperature ranges.
A)True
B)False
Q4) No two places on the Earth's surface experience exactly the same climatic conditions.
A)True
B)False
Q5) Construct a climograph for your city or town.
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Chapter 11: Climate Change
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Sample Questions
Q1) GCMs are used to predict specific temperatures in the near and long-term future.
A)True
B)False
Q2) Describe the properties, current atmospheric concentrations, and sources the primary greenhouse gases contributing to climate change?
Q3) The three key elements of climate change science include the following except
A) study of past climates.
B) measurement of current climatic change.
C) establishing policy on CO emissions.
D) projection of future climate scenarios.
Q4) Which of the following is not a stated ancillary benefit of reducing greenhouse gas emissions?
A) Improved air quality.
B) Increase in renewable and sustainable energy development.
C) Greater dependence on imported oil.
D) Fewer oil tanker spills.
Q5) The use of tree rings to study past climates is known as dendroclimatology.
A)True
B)False
Q6) What steps can you take to help reduce climate change?
Page 13
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Chapter 12: The Dynamic Planet
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Sample Questions
Q1) Molten rock beneath the Earth's surface is known as ________, whereas molten rock on the Earth's surface is called ________.
A) lava; magma
B) intrusive; extrusive
C) magma; lava
D) extrusive; intrusive
Q2) The Moho separates the outer core from mantle.
A)True
B)False
Q3) The Earth's interior composition has been inferred by the use of seismic waves.
A)True
B)False
Q4) At which of the following locations is new ocean crust being formed?
A) oceanic rift zones
B) along collision zones between two continents
C) along collision zones between two oceanic plates
D) in oceanic trenches
Q5) Transform plate boundaries are associated with earthquake activity.
A)True
B)False
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Chapter 13: Tectonics, Earthquakes, and Volcanism
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Sample Questions
Q1) Define and distinguish between the following: epicenter, focus, foreshock, aftershock.
Q2) Geologically speaking, the continents began forming relatively recently.
A)True
B)False
Q3) Scientists have been able to accurately forecast earthquakes for approximately a decade.
A)True
B)False
Q4) Human populations are growing in areas prone to seismic activity and near active volcanoes.
A)True
B)False
Q5) Earthquakes associated with human activity, such as waste water injection wells, are known as induced seismicity.
A)True
B)False
Q6) The measurement of land elevations relative to sea level is known as hypsometry. A)True
B)False
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Chapter 14: Weathering, Karst Landscapes, and Mass Movement
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Sample Questions
Q1) Chemical weathering is greatest under conditions of
A) higher rainfall and temperatures.
B) lower rainfall and temperatures.
C) higher rainfall, but lower temperatures.
D) lower rainfall, but higher temperatures.
Q2) The yellow-red stains that occur on some rock surfaces are the result of ________ which is a form of ________ weathering.
A) hydration; physical
B) hydration; chemical
C) solution; chemical
D) oxidation; physical
E) oxidation; chemical
Q3) The sudden rapid movement of an unsaturated cohesive mass of regolith or bedrock is a
A) rockfall.
B) mudflow.
C) debris avalanche.
D) landslide.
Q4) Discuss the dynamic equilibrium model and the concept of geomorphic threshold.
Q5) List and describe anthropogenic mass movement.
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Chapter 15: River Systems and Landforms
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Sample Questions
Q1) Which of the following is correct of floodplains?
A) They rarely occur in a fluvial landscape created by an "old" river.
B) They are erosional landforms.
C) They often evolve after a stream has ceased downcutting at a significant rate.
D) They are the areas of a stream where terraces are present.
Q2) The ultimate base level is sea level.
A)True
B)False
Q3) A stream becomes graded when A) erosion and deposition are in equilibrium.
B) a local base level controls the stream.
C) a river achieves a longitudinal stream profile of a steeper upstream portion. D) its basin becomes rejuvenated.
Q4) A mass of water above base level in a stream has ________ energy; as it flows downstream, this energy becomes ________ energy.
A) kinetic; potential
B) potential; kinetic
C) kinetic; kinetic D) potential; potential
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Chapter 16: The Oceans, Coastal Processes, and Wind
Processes
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Sample Questions
Q1) Beaches are
A) places where sediment is stable and unchanging.
B) permanent coastal features.
C) places along the coast where sediment is in motion.
D) always composed of sand.
Q2) Long, narrow depositional features of sand that form offshore roughly parallel to the coast are called
A) tombolos.
B) barrier beaches.
C) baymouth bar.
D) groins.
Q3) The height of a tsunami grows as it approaches a coastline primarily because A) its energy level increases.
B) its wavelength shortens.
C) the height of the surf is added to the height of the tsunami.
D) trick question-the height of a tsunami remains constant from the time of its origin.
Q4) Soils formed from loess tend to be infertile.
A)True
B)False
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Chapter 17: Glacial and Periglacial Processes and Landforms
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Sample Questions
Q1) Glacial polish results from A) abrasion.
B) ice plucking.
C) regelation.
D) ablation.
Q2) A long, narrow, sinuous ridge of stratified sand and gravel located in a till plain is known as a(n)
A) drumlin.
B) kame.
C) esker.
D) kettle.
Q3) a steep-sided glaciofluvial landform that occur as the result of blocks of ice calving from the retreating glacier and subsequent accumulation of till around the melting ice block is known as a(n)
A) drumlin.
B) kame.
C) esker.
D) kettle.
Q4) Discuss several issues glacial and periglacial environments may face during the 21st Century.
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Chapter 18: The Geography of Soils
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Sample Questions
Q1) Expandable clay soils, such as montmorillonite, characterize this soil order.
A) Oxisols
B) Mollisols
C) Vertisols
D) Aridisols
Q2) Which of the following best describes the role of biological activity in soils development?
A) Broadleaf trees tend to increase the alkalinity of soil, whereas needleleaf trees increase the acidity.
B) Earthworms increase soil porosity and contribute to soil movement and organic content.
C) Plant roots provide channels for air and water movement in soils.
D) All organisms living in, on, and over the soil, influence soil development and characteristics: they can influence the pH, the organic matter, chemical content, and biological content of soils.
Q3) Spodosols are solely associated with the northern coniferous forest and are never found within mixed or deciduous forests.
A)True
B)False
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Chapter 19: Ecosystem Essentials
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Sample Questions
Q1) Which of the following is not considered among the greatest anthopogenic threats to biodiversity?
A) habitat loss
B) introduction of non-native species
C) air, water, and soil pollution
D) climate change
E) habitat loss, non-native species, pollution, and climate change all represent threats to biodiversity
Q2) Photosynthesis converts
A) heat energy, carbon dioxide, and water into carbohydrates and oxygen.
B) heat energy, oxygen, and carbohydrates into carbon dioxide and water.
C) light energy, carbon dioxide, and water into carbohydrates and oxygen.
D) light energy, oxygen, and carbohydrates into carbon dioxide and water.
Q3) The origin of the Earth's biological diversity is embodied in
A) the life zone concept.
B) the theory of evolution.
C) ecological succession principle.
D) competitive exclusion principle.
Q4) What are the major threats to biodiversity in the coming decades? Explain your selections.
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Chapter 20: Terrestrial Biomes
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Sample Questions
Q1) All needleleaf trees area evergreen.
A)True
B)False
Q2) The Earth's largest living organism in terms of biomass is the A) baobab (Adansonia digitata).
B) giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum).
C) bristlecone pine (Pinus longaeva).
D) sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis).
Q3) Which of the following best describes an invasive species?
A) An invasive species is any non-native introduced species, whether it becomes established or not.
B) Non-native species become invasive when they become established in a new area, taking over niches that were already occupied by native species.
C) Dispersal, even if anthropogenic, is a normal biogeographic process and, therefore, no cause of alarm.
D) Approximately 90% of all introduced non-native species become invasive species.
Q4) Discuss the extent of deforestation in the tropics and why it is such an important environmental issue.
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