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(1)

Briefly describe each of the three properties of a planet that determine its temperature. Use these to help explain how we know that the greenhouse effect is real and warms the Earth by about 60 degrees Fahrenheit.

(2)

From Chapter 5.1, explain why the behavior of light led scientists to believe that the space between the planets, stars and galaxies was not empty but instead filled with a thin air-like substance known as aether. (HW)

(3)

From Chapter 5.2, briefly describe the three main characteristics of blackbody radiation. (HW)

(4)

From Chapter 5.3, explain how and why we can use spectroscopy to determine the composition of a distant object, like a star or planetary atmosphere. (HW)

(5)

Explain how we use Carbon isotope evidence to support the idea that the increase in Carbon Dioxide in Earth's atmosphere over the past 200 years is largely due to human activity as opposed to a natural process or cycle.

(6)

From Chapter 8.3, explain what causes the stratosphere to heat up far above the Earth, where we would normally expect the temperature to be much colder. (HW)

(7)

From Chapter 8.3, describe what we think are the two major original sources of the Earth's atmosphere and oceans (three possible sources are described, but only two of those are thought to be responsible). (HW)

(8)

From Chapter 8.4, describe the changes in the Earth's atmosphere allowed life to emerge from the oceans and populate the landmasses starting about 2 billion years ago. (HW)

The following five questions are from the Scientific American article, "The Physical Science behind Climate Change," by Williams Collins, et al. You can find this article in the "Content" section for our Physics 10273 course on TCU's Brightspace.

(9)

What is radiative forcing? What does "positive" radiative forcing and "negative" radiative forcing mean? Briefly describe two examples of positive forcing and two examples of negative forcing in climate science. (HW)

(10)

Explain the evidence found in computer models of the climate that indicate that natural climate forcings are not sufficient to explain the rise in average temperature since the mid-20th century and that anthropogenic (human-caused) factors must be largely responsible. (HW)

(11)

Describe two patterns in our atmosphere that suggest the recent warming of the past century is due to human activity, and not due to natural forcings, such as changes in solar activity (HW)

(12)

Even if we were to stop emitting Carbon altogether today, the climate would continue to warm for at least another couple of decades, if not longer. Explain why. (HW)

(13)

Aside from melting ice on land (such as ice loss from Greenland and Antarctica), what will be the primary reason sea levels will rise during the 21st century as the global average temperature increases? (HW)

The following three questions are from the article "Cargo Cult Science," a commencement address by Physicist Richard Feynman. This can be found in a link from the main Physics 10273 page just above the study guide links, or here

(14)

Based on Feynman's story about the Pacific islander "cargo cult," explain "why the planes don't land" to a typical islander who might ask, in a few sentences. (HW)

(15)

Summarize the story of Mr. Young's experiment and why those who ignore his work cannot really trust their conclusions. (HW)

(16)

Explain the story of the Millikan oil drop experiment and the subsequent history. Explain why this was such an embarrassing episode for scientists. (HW)

(17)

Explain the difference between weather and climate. Why is local temperature variation not really important in terms of global warming?

(18)

Describe how written records can be used to estimate the temperature from hundreds of years ago, even before the invention of the thermometer. How does the logical chain work to get from "this particular lake first froze over in March of this particular year" to use knowing what the temperature was during that particular year?

(19)

To go back further, 1000 or more years, scientists look in places like Lake Tuborg or an old forest. Briefly describe what scientists look for when they look at ice layers in a frozen lake and tree rings in a forest. Do thicker layers/tree rings mean warmer (wetter) climate or cooler (drier) climate? Explain why for each case.

(20)

What is the Keeling curve? Why does it go up and down during the Spring and Fall?

(21)

Explain how we can use ice core measurements to estimate the Carbon Dioxide content of the atmosphere hundreds of thousands of years ago. How do current atmospheric conditions compare to those measured during the past 400,000 years?

(22)

According to the fossil fuel industry, increases in Carbon Dioxide will act like "plant food" and accelerate the growth of forests and other plant life. Explain how this hypothesis is being tested and whether the test confirms the hypothesis.

(23)

Will this "greening hypothesis" enable the problem to essentially solve itself by taking all the excess Carbon out of the atmosphere? Explain.

(24)

In computer models, name and explain one example of a positive feedback effect and a negative feedback effect. Why do the computer models have such a wide range of possible predictions about future temperatures?

The following three questions are from the reading "Philosophy and the Scientific Method" by Ronald C. Pine, found on the main class web page or here.

(25)

From the reading "Philosophy and the Scientific Method," what is the primary difference between a scientific and a non-scientific belief? What is the major weakness of using irrefutable beliefs as a basis for a system of knowledge? I strongly recommend you check your answer on this one with me. (HW)

(26)

In the reading "Philosophy and the Scientific Method," a "letter to the editor" is discussed, in which the letter writer confuses correlation and causation. Explain the difference between the letter writer's point of view and the scientific point of view. (HW)

(27)

From the reading "Philosophy and the Scientific Method," use the barrel of apples analogy to help explain the difference between "probably true" and "almost definitely true, beyond any reasonable doubt." (HW)

The following three study guide questions are from the March 2012 Scientific American article "Gather the Wind," which is available on TCU's Brightspace.

(28)

Explain how water can be used to store energy generated by windmills for later use when the wind isn't blowing. (HW)

(29)

Explain how underground caverns can store and release energy generated by windmills. Also, explain one technical hurdle in this process and how utilities are trying to overcome it. (HW)

(30)

From the last part of the article, how does an electrolyzer convert electricity into stored energy? How does a fuel cell release this stored energy for use? What currently limits this kind of process from widespread use in homes? (HW)

The following four study guide questions are from the July 2011 Scientific American article "The Last Great Global Warming," which is available on TCU's Brightspace.

(31)

In addition to an increase in CO2 due to volcanic eruptions, describe two other processes that contributed methane and CO2 to the atmosphere to accelerate the warming process during the PETM era. (HW)

(32)

Explain the two chemical changes that occurred in the oceans due to the PETM warming. What were these changes, and how did rising CO2 levels cause them? (HW)

(33)

Explain how we use deep-sea sediment cores to indicate temperatures long ago. Also, explain why these sediment cores are the most degraded and difficult to interpret during the period when the most warming took place? (HW)

(34)

Explain what the authors eventually discovered by the PETM that was different from previous conclusions. Also, how does the CO2 increase during the PETM compare to today's CO2 increase, and what do the authors therefore conclude about comparisons between the PETM and the modern era changes in ecology? (HW)

(35)

If the Kyoto protocol were enacted, how would that change projected atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide over the next 100 years, compared to "business as usual" projections?

(36)

Briefly explain why climate scientists weren't satisfied with the Kyoto treaty and also why politicians were also not satisfied (summarize one of the reasons given in each case).

(37)

What are three types of renewable power sources mentioned in the film? Briefly explain two major drawbacks that are associated with renewable energy sources in general.

(38)

One alternative source of power that may help account for current energy production and future growth is nuclear energy. What are two major long-term drawbacks associated with nuclear energy?

(39)

What are breeder reactors? How might breeder reactors overcome one of these drawbacks, and what is a major problem associated with breeder reactors?

(40)

What was the political fate of the Kyoto treaty in the United States?

(41)

Explain how nuclear fission generates energy (where, exactly, does the energy come from in the reaction). Also, explain briefly how nuclear power plants convert this energy into electricity.

(42)

What difficulty prevents most countries from obtaining nuclear weapons?

(43)

Explain why nuclear fusion reactions require extremely high temperatures. Also, why must the fusing material be contained somehow and a high density maintained?

(44)

Why is it difficult to contain fusion reactions? Explain inertial and magnetic confinement.

(45)

What are Deuterium and Tritium? Why do we use them in nuclear fusion reactors instead of Hydrogen?

(46)

Briefly describe two major drawbacks currently about nuclear fusion power that prevent it from being implemented widely