IBPhysicsHLExam QuestionsThe Particulate Nature of MatterGreenhouse Effect

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First teaching 2023

First exams 2025

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Greenhouse Effect (HL IB Physics)

Exam Questions

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Greenhouse Effect

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Greenhouse Effect

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1
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Which of the following contributes to the enhanced greenhouse effect?

  • Burning fossil fuels

  • Destruction of the ozone layer

  • Carbon dioxide from active volcanoes around the world

  • Increase in ultraviolet radiation penetrating the Earth's atmosphere

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2
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Which equation is used to calculate emissivity?

  • fraction numerator p o w e r space r a d i a t e d space b y space a n space o b j e c t over denominator p o w e r space e m i t t e d space b y space a space b l a c k space b o d y end fraction

  • fraction numerator p o w e r space e m i t t e d space b y space a n space o b j e c t over denominator p o w e r space e m i t t e d space b y space a space b l a c k space b o d y end fraction

  • fraction numerator t o t a l space s c a t t e r e d space p o w e r space f r o m space a n space o b j e c t over denominator t o t a l space i n c i d e n t space p o w e r space f r o m space a space b l a c k space b o d y end fraction

  • fraction numerator p o w e r space a b s o r b e d space b y space a n space o b j e c t over denominator p o w e r space a b s o r b e d space b y space a space b l a c k space b o d y end fraction

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3
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The average albedo of desert sand is 0.4. What is the fraction numerator power space absorbed space by space desert space sand over denominator power space reflected space by space desert space sand end fraction?

  • 0.4

  • 0.67

  • 1.5

  • 4.0

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4
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Which of the following describes the role of carbon dioxide in the greenhouse effect?

  • It absorbs incoming radiation from the Sun.

  • It reflects incoming radiation from the Sun.

  • It absorbs outgoing radiation from the Earth's surface.

  • It reflects outgoing radiation from the Earth's surface.

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5
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The solar constant is the intensity of the Sun's radiation at

  • the surface of the Earth

  • the surface of the Sun

  • the average distance between the Sun and the Earth

  • the top of the Earth's atmosphere

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1
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Which factors affect the amount of solar power incident on a given point on the surface of the Earth? 

  1. Weather conditions
  2. Latitude
  3. Position of the Earth in its orbit of the Sun

  • I and III only

  • I and II only

  • I, II and III

  • III only

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2
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The solar constant is quoted as an average rather than an absolute value. Which statements correctly explain this? 

  1. The Earth follows an elliptical orbit around the Sun
  2. The Earth rotates on an axis which is tilted at 23.5o to the plane of its orbit
  3. The energy output of the Sun varies according to an 11-year cycle

  • I only

  • II and III only

  • I and III only

  • III only

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3
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Certain gases, for example carbon dioxide and methane, are categorised as greenhouse gases because they:

  • Transmit incoming radiation from the Sun and then absorb outgoing radiation from the Earth

  • Absorb incoming radiation from the Sun and also absorb outgoing radiation from the Earth

  • Reflect incoming radiation from the Sun

  • Reflect outgoing radiation from the Earth

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4
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Some of the energy incident on the surface of the Earth is emitted as infrared radiation. Why does this cause a ‘greenhouse effect’?

  • The radiation becomes trapped in the troposphere

  • The radiation heats the upper atmosphere

  • The radiation is absorbed by the atmosphere and is re-radiated in all directions

  • The radiation is absorbed by the upper atmosphere then all re-radiated back to the surface of the Earth

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5
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Which two assumptions are made when calculating the solar constant?

A.
  1. The Earth is in an elliptical orbit around the Sun
  2. The Sun's output varies during its 11-year sunspot cycle
B.
  1. Radiation from the Sun is incident on the Earth for one second
  2. Radiation from the Sun is incident on one square meter of the Earth
C.
  1. Radiation is incident on the Earth, parallel to its surface
  2. The Earth is at its maximum distance from the Sun
D.
  1. Radiation is incident perpendicular to the Earth's surface
  2. The Earth is at its mean distance from the Sun

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    6
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    Which diagram shows the absorption spectra for ozone? 

    8-2-ib-sl-easy-mcq-9-q

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      1
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      The diagram shows a simplified model of the energy balance of the Earth. 

      8-2-sl-mcq-hard-q8-phy

      What is the albedo of the Earth according to this model?

      • 1 third

      • 5 over 14

      • 145 over 212

      • 29 over 42

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      2
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      During a freak weather event, the average intensity of light received on Earth was 5 × 10−5r W m−2. r is the radius of the Sun equal to 7 × 108 m.  The average albedo was 0.8 and the average emissivity was 1 over 8. The light coming from the Sun to the Earth travels through a total area of 1 × 1017 m2. 

      Assume that σ = 6 × 10−8 W m−2 K−4 

      What was the average temperature of the Earth during the event? 

      • fourth root of fraction numerator 1 over denominator 21 pi end fraction cross times 10 to the power of negative 12 end exponent end root space K

      • space fourth root of fraction numerator 1 over denominator 42 pi end fraction cross times 10 to the power of 12 end root space K

      • fourth root of fraction numerator 1 over denominator 21 pi end fraction cross times 10 to the power of 12 end root space K

      • fourth root of 1 over 21 cross times 10 to the power of 12 end root space K

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      3
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      The diagram shows a simplified model of the energy balance of the Earth's surface.

      The atmosphere and the surface of the Earth can be modelled as two black body radiators each at constant temperature. The surface of the Earth receives both solar radiation and radiation emitted from the atmosphere.

      energy-balance-new-ib-hl-physics

      The average equilibrium temperature of the Earth's surface is TS and the average equilibrium temperature of the atmosphere is TA = 252 K.

      What is the value of TS?

      • 238 K

      • 256 K

      • 280 K

      • 295 K

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      4
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      The average temperature of the surface of the Earth is 290 K, while the average surface temperature of the Moon varies from 145 K to 435 K, depending on the side that is illuminated by the Sun.

      The emissivities of the surfaces of the Earth and the Moon are about the same. The radius of the Moon is approximately 4 times smaller than the radius of the Earth.

      The average intensity radiated by the Earth is I. What are the maximum and minimum values of the intensity radiated by the Moon?

        maximum intensity of Moon minimum intensity of Moon
      A. fraction numerator I over denominator open parentheses 1.5 to the power of 4 close parentheses end fraction fraction numerator I over denominator open parentheses 0.5 to the power of 4 close parentheses end fraction
      B. open parentheses 4 squared close parentheses open parentheses 1.5 to the power of 4 close parentheses cross times I open parentheses 4 squared close parentheses open parentheses 0.5 to the power of 4 close parentheses cross times I
      C. open parentheses 1.5 to the power of 4 close parentheses cross times I open parentheses 0.5 to the power of 4 close parentheses cross times I
      D. fraction numerator I over denominator open parentheses 4 squared close parentheses open parentheses 1.5 to the power of 4 close parentheses end fraction fraction numerator I over denominator open parentheses 4 squared close parentheses open parentheses 0.5 to the power of 4 close parentheses end fraction

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        5
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        The atmosphere of Venus can be modelled in a similar way to the Earth.

        The Earth's orbital radius around the Sun is 1.5 times greater than that of Venus. The solar constant for the Earth is 1360 W m−2.

        In a simple climate model for Venus, the following data is used:

        • Average equilibrium temperature of Venus’s atmosphere = 250 K
        • Emissivity of Venus's atmosphere, e = 0.85
        • Albedo of Venus's atmosphere, a = 0.75

        The observed mean surface temperature T subscript S of the planet Venus is about 750 K, which is much higher than the average equilibrium temperature T subscript e of Venus's surface as predicted by the simple model.

        To account for the temperature difference, the model can be modified by introducing 'layers of atmosphere'. As radiation passes through each layer, the temperature of the atmosphere steadily increases. This temperature difference is represented by the equation

        T subscript S space equals space open parentheses N space plus space 1 close parentheses to the power of 1 fourth end exponent space T subscript e

        Where N is the number of atmospheric layers, and each layer can be assumed to absorb and emit all of the long-wave radiation it receives.

        How many atmospheric layers are needed to account for the difference between the observed and predicted temperatures?

        • 18

        • 40

        • 46

        • 63

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