Item WC091002: Clouds are likely to form as air moves up over a mountain because air cools as it rises and clouds are likely to form as air cools.
In the diagram below, warm air is moving over a lake and upward along the side of a mountain.
Where in this diagram are clouds more likely to form: over the lake or over the mountain?
- Over the lake because the lake is a source of water vapor for the moving air, and clouds always form close to where water evaporates
- Over the mountain because clouds often form on mountains, not because the air is cooler on the mountain
- Over the mountain because air can become cooler as it moves up the side of a mountain, and clouds often form as air cools
- Clouds do not form in air that does not already have clouds. For it to be cloudy somewhere, existing clouds must move to that place from somewhere else.
- Distribution of Responses
- Students Responding Correctly
Group | Correct | Total | Percent |
---|---|---|---|
Overall | 1885 | 4272 | 44% |
Grades | |||
6–8 | 1044 | 2588 | 40% |
9–12 | 840 | 1681 | 50% |
Gender | |||
Male | 931 | 2130 | 44% |
Female | 918 | 2070 | 44% |
Primary Language | |||
English | 1703 | 3842 | 44% |
Other | 130 | 324 | 40% |