Question 1

Which gas, emitted in large amounts by burning fossil fuels and contributing to human-caused warming, is a greenhouse gas?

Accepted Answer

Carbon dioxide The correct answer is A, carbon dioxide (CO₂). Burning fossil fuels releases CO₂, which absorbs some of the infrared radiation Earth sends back toward space and contributes to human-caused warming. Water vapour is also a greenhouse gas, but CO₂ is the gas identified by the fossil-fuel clue in this question.

Question 2

What does the heat budget of the earth show?

Accepted Answer

Balance of incoming and outgoing energy Heat budget is the account of energy received and lost by Earth. For exams remember it as energy balance.

Question 3

What is the main source of heat for the earth?

Accepted Answer

Sun Most of Earths heat comes from solar radiation received from the Sun. In exams treat the Sun as the main energy source.

Question 4

What does incoming energy mean in heat budget?

Accepted Answer

Solar energy reaching Earth Incoming energy is solar energy reaching Earths atmosphere and surface. In exams understand incoming as energy from the Sun.

Question 5

In heat budget outgoing energy mainly leaves in which form?

Accepted Answer

Longwave terrestrial radiation Earth sends absorbed energy out as longwave radiation. In exams link outgoing energy with terrestrial radiation.

Question 6

Solar radiation is generally considered what type of radiation?

Accepted Answer

Shortwave radiation Energy from the Sun comes as shortwave radiation. In exams call solar energy shortwave radiation.

Question 7

What is meant by terrestrial radiation?

Accepted Answer

Heat energy emitted by Earth Earth emits its absorbed energy as longwave heat. In exams understand terrestrial radiation as Earths heat.

Question 8

Incoming solar energy is commonly explained by taking how many units?

Accepted Answer

Hundred units Heat budget is commonly explained by taking solar energy as hundred units. In exams remember the hundred unit base.

Question 9

Out of hundred units of solar energy about how many units are reflected back to space?

Accepted Answer

Thirty five units About thirty five units are reflected by clouds atmosphere and surfaces. In exams remember the reflected part as thirty five units.

Question 10

Out of hundred units of solar energy about how many units are absorbed by Earth and atmosphere?

Accepted Answer

Sixty five units Out of hundred units about sixty five units are absorbed by Earth and atmosphere. In exams remember the absorbed part as sixty five units.

Question 11

About fifty one units of solar energy are considered absorbed by what?

Accepted Answer

Earth surface In heat budget about fifty one units are absorbed by Earths surface. In exams remember the surface share as fifty one units.

Question 12

About fourteen units of solar energy are absorbed in what?

Accepted Answer

Atmosphere A part of solar energy is directly absorbed by the atmosphere. In exams remember atmospheric absorption as fourteen units.

Question 13

What happens due to reflection of solar energy by clouds?

Accepted Answer

Some energy returns to space Clouds reflect a part of solar rays back to space. In exams treat clouds as a major cause of reflection.

Question 14

Albedo is related to what?

Accepted Answer

Reflecting power of a surface Albedo is the ability of a surface to reflect solar energy. In exams remember higher albedo means higher reflection.

Question 15

How is the albedo of a snow covered surface generally?

Accepted Answer

High The direct answer is B, high. Albedo means the fraction of incoming sunlight that a surface reflects back. Fresh snow is bright white and reflects a large part of solar radiation instead of absorbing it. Therefore, its albedo is generally high. Option A, very low, is incorrect because dark surfaces such as asphalt absorb more sunlight and usually have low albedo. Option B is correct because snow and ice are highly reflective. Option C, zero, is incorrect because snow does reflect sunlight; zero would mean complete absorption. Option D, always equal, is incorrect because albedo can change with snow age, dirt, melting, grain size, and the angle of sunlight. Thus the correct fact chain is white snow → strong reflection → high albedo. Memory cue: bright surfaces reflect, while dark surfaces absorb.

Question 16

What does a dark colored surface generally do with solar energy?

Accepted Answer

Absorbs more Direct answer: Option C, a dark-coloured surface generally absorbs more solar energy. Solar energy can be reflected, absorbed, or transmitted. Dark surfaces usually reflect a smaller share and absorb a larger share, so they warm more. Step by step: sunlight reaches the surface; a light surface sends more energy back by reflection; a dark surface sends less back; the remaining larger share enters the surface as absorbed energy and raises its temperature. Option A is wrong because dark surfaces generally reflect less, not more. Option B is wrong because every real surface absorbs at least some energy; darkness does not mean zero absorption. Option C is correct because it states the usual relationship between dark colour and absorption. Option D is irrelevant and scientifically wrong: solar energy is not converted only into sound. Memory cue: dark absorbs, light reflects. This is a general rule, though the exact amount also depends on the material and wavelength.

Question 17

Why does Earths average temperature remain balanced over long periods?

Accepted Answer

Because incoming and outgoing energy remain nearly balanced Over long periods Earth sends out nearly as much energy as it receives. In exams link balance with stable average temperature.

Question 18

What will happen if Earth receives more energy than it emits?

Accepted Answer

Average temperature will rise Direct answer: Option A, Earth’s average temperature will tend to rise. Earth’s energy balance compares incoming energy with outgoing emitted energy. Step by step: Earth receives solar energy; it emits infrared energy back to space; if incoming energy is greater than outgoing energy, energy is stored in the Earth system; stored energy increases heating, so the average temperature tends to rise until balance is restored or other conditions change. Option A is correct because an energy surplus produces warming. Option B is the opposite of the expected result and would fit an energy deficit, not a surplus. Option C is wrong because receiving extra energy does not make the Sun stop producing energy. Option D is unrelated: the Moon does not disappear because Earth has an energy imbalance. The word ‘tend’ matters: this describes the general physical response, not an instant identical warming everywhere. Memory cue: incoming greater than outgoing means surplus and warming; outgoing greater than incoming means loss and cooling.

Question 19

What happens if Earth loses more energy than it receives?

Accepted Answer

Average temperature will fall The governing concept is Earth’s heat budget, which compares incoming solar energy with energy leaving the Earth system. If outgoing energy exceeds incoming energy for a sustained period, the system has a net energy deficit. The surface and lower atmosphere must lose thermal energy, so the average temperature tends to decrease until a new balance is approached. Therefore option B is correct. Option A would require energy balance, not an ongoing deficit. Option C has no physical basis in this energy-budget relationship. Option D is an exaggerated claim: atmospheric water vapour may change with temperature, but an energy deficit does not mean that all water disappears from the atmosphere. The result described is cooling, not an immediate absolute transformation.

Question 20

What does the atmosphere do with longwave energy emitted by Earth?

Accepted Answer

Absorbs some of it Gases in the atmosphere absorb some terrestrial longwave energy. In exams link this with greenhouse effect.

Question 21

Which energy is most related to the greenhouse effect?

Accepted Answer

Longwave terrestrial energy Greenhouse gases absorb longwave energy emitted by Earth. In exams link greenhouse effect with longwave energy.

Question 22

Carbon dioxide and water vapour are examples of which type of gases?

Accepted Answer

Greenhouse gases These gases absorb longwave heat and help keep Earth warm. In exams count them among key greenhouse gases.

Question 23

Energy absorbed by Earths surface is later emitted in which form?

Accepted Answer

Longwave terrestrial radiation The surface absorbs solar energy and emits it as longwave radiation. In exams remember the surface as a longwave emitter.

Question 24

What is one important role of clouds in heat budget?

Accepted Answer

They reflect part of solar energy Clouds return part of incoming solar energy to space. In exams link clouds with both reflection and counter radiation.

Question 25

What effect can dust particles in the atmosphere have on solar radiation?

Accepted Answer

They can scatter solar radiation Dust particles scatter solar rays and affect energy reaching the surface. In exams link dust with scattering.

The heat budget of the earth

Practice questions

01 Which gas, emitted in large amounts by burning fossil fuels and contributing to human-caused warming, is a greenhouse gas?

02 What does the heat budget of the earth show?

03 What is the main source of heat for the earth?

04 What does incoming energy mean in heat budget?

05 In heat budget outgoing energy mainly leaves in which form?

06 Solar radiation is generally considered what type of radiation?

07 What is meant by terrestrial radiation?

08 Incoming solar energy is commonly explained by taking how many units?

09 Out of hundred units of solar energy about how many units are reflected back to space?

10 Out of hundred units of solar energy about how many units are absorbed by Earth and atmosphere?

11 About fifty one units of solar energy are considered absorbed by what?

12 About fourteen units of solar energy are absorbed in what?

13 What happens due to reflection of solar energy by clouds?

14 Albedo is related to what?

15 How is the albedo of a snow covered surface generally?

16 What does a dark colored surface generally do with solar energy?

17 Why does Earths average temperature remain balanced over long periods?

18 What will happen if Earth receives more energy than it emits?

19 What happens if Earth loses more energy than it receives?

20 What does the atmosphere do with longwave energy emitted by Earth?

21 Which energy is most related to the greenhouse effect?

22 Carbon dioxide and water vapour are examples of which type of gases?

23 Energy absorbed by Earths surface is later emitted in which form?

24 What is one important role of clouds in heat budget?

25 What effect can dust particles in the atmosphere have on solar radiation?

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