Investigating Oceanography - Prologue Test Questions with Correct Answers Fully Solved
Who invented the study of geography as well as the system of longitude and latitude? - Answers
Eratosthenes of Egypt, the first person to calculate the tilt of the Earth's axis
One of Eratosthenes's greatest achievements was what? - Answers the calculation of the Earth's
circumference
What are the subfields of Oceanography? - Answers Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Geology, Biochemistry,
Biophysics, Geochemistry, and Geophysics
Early sailors used what for guidance during long ocean voyages? - Answers The stars, the wind, cloud
formations
What kind of compass did Polynesians use for navigation? - Answers The star compass; an outer ring of
stones, each representing a star constellation when it rises or sets on the horizon, and an inner ring of
pieces of palm leaf representing the swells.
How long ago was Earth's circumference first calculated? and how was it done? - Answers 276-195 B.C.;
it was done by recording, at high noon on summer solstice, a shadow that was cast on a pole in his
hometown. He measured the height of the pole and the length of the shadow, then calculated the angle
perpendicular of the Sun's elevation.
How did Ptolemy's atlas contribute to a greater understanding of world geography, and how did it
produce confusion? - Answers His atlas listed 8000 places by latitude and longitude, but his value for
Earth's circumference was wrong. It was too small and confused Columbus into thinking he reached
Asia, when he only reached America.
A viking, Erik the Red, sailed from west Iceland in 982 and discovered - Answers Greenland
Erik the Red's son, Leif Ericksson, sailed to North America roughly 500 years before who? - Answers
Columbus
What advances occurred during the Middle Ages that allowed for longer ocean voyages? - Answers
shipbuilding (more seaworthy), magnetic compass
During the tenth century, which oceans were explored and by which cultures? - Answers North Atlantic
Ocean-Vikings
Mediterranean, Indian Ocean-Arabs
Persian Gulf-Chinese and Arabs
Where did the Vikings establish a large colony in the North Atlantic? - Answers Iceland and Greenland
Who invented the study of geography as well as the system of longitude and latitude? - Answers
Eratosthenes of Egypt, the first person to calculate the tilt of the Earth's axis
One of Eratosthenes's greatest achievements was what? - Answers the calculation of the Earth's
circumference
What are the subfields of Oceanography? - Answers Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Geology, Biochemistry,
Biophysics, Geochemistry, and Geophysics
Early sailors used what for guidance during long ocean voyages? - Answers The stars, the wind, cloud
formations
What kind of compass did Polynesians use for navigation? - Answers The star compass; an outer ring of
stones, each representing a star constellation when it rises or sets on the horizon, and an inner ring of
pieces of palm leaf representing the swells.
How long ago was Earth's circumference first calculated? and how was it done? - Answers 276-195 B.C.;
it was done by recording, at high noon on summer solstice, a shadow that was cast on a pole in his
hometown. He measured the height of the pole and the length of the shadow, then calculated the angle
perpendicular of the Sun's elevation.
How did Ptolemy's atlas contribute to a greater understanding of world geography, and how did it
produce confusion? - Answers His atlas listed 8000 places by latitude and longitude, but his value for
Earth's circumference was wrong. It was too small and confused Columbus into thinking he reached
Asia, when he only reached America.
A viking, Erik the Red, sailed from west Iceland in 982 and discovered - Answers Greenland
Erik the Red's son, Leif Ericksson, sailed to North America roughly 500 years before who? - Answers
Columbus
What advances occurred during the Middle Ages that allowed for longer ocean voyages? - Answers
shipbuilding (more seaworthy), magnetic compass
During the tenth century, which oceans were explored and by which cultures? - Answers North Atlantic
Ocean-Vikings
Mediterranean, Indian Ocean-Arabs
Persian Gulf-Chinese and Arabs
Where did the Vikings establish a large colony in the North Atlantic? - Answers Iceland and Greenland
