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O-LevelGeographyThe natural environment2217/22 · Oct/Nov 2015 · Q730 Marks

Students at Princeton University in the USA investigated temperature differences around the campus. One group studied the effect of buildings on temperature and tested the following hypotheses. Hypothesis 1: Temperature will be highest next to buildings. Hypothesis 2: Temperature will be higher on the south side of a building (the side facing the sun). Fig. 8 (Insert) shows a sketch map of the study area. The students decided to measure temperatures near to two buildings at six times of the day during one day in July (summer).

  1. (a)(i)To measure temperature they used a digital thermometer. This is shown in Photograph B (Insert). Give three advantages of the digital thermometer over a maximum-minimum thermometer.[3]
  2. (a)(ii)How could the students check that their temperature readings were accurate?[2]
  3. (b)(i)The results of the students' measurements are shown in Table 1 (Insert). What was the highest temperature recorded on the north facing side of the Guyot building?[1]
  4. (b)(ii)At what distance from the Guyot building was the largest variation in temperature?[1]
  5. (b)(iii)Use the results in Table 1 to complete Fig. 9B on page 16.[2]
  6. (b)(iv)At which location do the temperature measurements better support Hypothesis 1: Temperature will be highest next to buildings? Circle your chosen location below. • The Guyot building • The Eno building Support your choice with evidence from Table 1 and Figs 9A and 9B.[3]
  7. (b)(v)Suggest why temperatures may be higher nearer to a building.[1]
  8. (b)(vi)One student noticed that a tree was partially shading one measuring site near the Eno building. Look again at Table 1 and circle below the measuring site where the tree was located. Distance of sites from the Eno building: 0.5m 1.0m 2.0m 4.0m 8.0m[1]
  9. (c)(i)To investigate Hypothesis 2: Temperature will be higher on the south side of a building (the side facing the sun), the students calculated the average temperature at each time of day at the two locations. These are shown in Table 1 (Insert). Calculate the average temperature at 12.30 at the Eno building and write your answer on the line below.[1]
  10. (c)(ii)Plot the average temperature calculated in c(i) on Fig. 10 below.[1]
  11. (c)(iii)The students decided that Hypothesis 2: Temperature will be higher on the south side of a building (the side facing the sun) was true. Support their conclusion with evidence from Fig. 10 and Table 1.[3]
  12. (c)(iv)Look again at Table 1 (Insert). Why is there a difference in temperature between the two buildings at 09.30?[1]
  13. (c)(v)Suggest one other factor that could cause temperature variation in a small area.[1]
  14. (c)(vi)The students discussed how they could improve their investigation to make it more reliable. Suggest two ways to improve the reliability of their investigation.[2]
  15. (d)(i)Another feature of weather which may vary over a small area is relative humidity. Which one of the following is the correct definition of relative humidity? Tick your answer in the box below. Definition The amount of water vapour held in the air during the day. The amount of moisture in the air as a percentage of the total moisture it could hold at that temperature. The minimum amount of water vapour in the air when it is warmed up. The percentage of moisture in the air after heavy rainfall.[1]
  16. (d)(ii)Relative humidity is calculated by using a wet and dry bulb thermometer (hygrometer). This is shown in Fig. 11 (Insert). Explain why the two thermometers show different temperatures.[4]
  17. (d)(iii)Read the temperature of the wet bulb thermometer shown in Fig. 11 and use the relative humidity table shown in Fig. 12 (Insert) to calculate the relative humidity of the example shown. Dry bulb temperature = 24 °C Wet bulb temperature = .............................................. °C Temperature difference = .............................................. °C Relative Humidity = .............................................. %[2]

This question uses a diagram from the original paper, which isn't shown here. Open the full paper from the past papers archive to see it.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (Oct/Nov 2015). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

  1. [3] (a) (i) Give instant readings/faster/quicker/saves time (1)
  2. Easy to use/clear to read/larger digital readout/no parallax error/less complex/simpler to use (1)
  3. Don't need to know how to read digital thermometer/don't have to read off thermometer (1)
  4. Exact figures/accurate/precise (1)
  5. Less chance of making mistakes in reading/mis-reading/fewer errors/error free (1)
  6. Portable/can be used at more than one site/easier to reset/don't need to reset (1)
  7. Can download results to computer/store data (1)
  8. Safer if dropped because no mercury/sturdier if dropped (1)
  9. [2] (a) (ii) Take more than one reading with different digital/other thermometer (1)
  10. Partner/other student checks readings are accurate (1)
  11. Take more readings and calculate the average (1)
  12. [1] (b) (i) 35.6°C
  13. [1] (b) (ii) 4m
  14. [2] (b) (iii) Plot 36 at 4m (1) and 35.2 at 8m (1). No credit for line/time of plot.
  15. [3] (b) (iv) The Eno building – 1 mark reserve
  16. Comparative evidence for Eno building being best choice; do not credit individual sites
  17. Average temperature at 0.5 m/next to Eno building is higher than Guyot (1)
  18. Temperature next to Eno building 31.2C but only 29.9 C at Guyot (1) OR 1.3 C higher (1)
  19. no need to state average if stats used are the average stats
  20. Temperature at Eno decreases from 31.2C at 0.5m to 30.8 C at 8 m but at Guyot average temperature increases from 29.9C at 0.5m to 30.3 C at 8 m (1)
  21. no need to state average if stats used are the average stats
  22. [1] (b) (v) Buildings absorb/store heat from sun or internal heating system (1)
  23. Buildings radiate/emit heat (1)
  24. Buildings sheltered from cooling influences, e.g. wind/rain (1)
  25. [1] (b) (vi) 8m
  26. [1] (c) (i) 34.2 (Accept 34.24 as TICK JU)
  27. [1] (c) (ii) Should plot 34.2/34.24 with small circle at 12.30 for the mark.
  28. IF calculation wrong in (c)(i) must credit the ensuing plot if correct on the graph to avoid ECF.
  29. [3] (c) (iii) Examples of evidence (all refs to average temperatures NOT single data)
  30. Average temperatures all higher at all distances from Eno building which is south facing (1)
  31. At all times except 06.30 average temperatures higher at Eno building (1)
  32. Only one time/06.30 when average temperatures are the same/22.6 C at both buildings (1)
  33. Credit paired data (can be two time refs or two distance refs or one time and one distance. Must refer to AVERAGE temperatures to 2 marks max but do not need to use the word 'average' if statistics used are the averages
  34. e.g. Eno building 31.2C at 0.5 m compared to Guyot with 29.9 C at 0.5m (1) OR 1.3 C higher at 0.5 m at Eno (1)
  35. At 15.30 Eno building 35.7 C but Guyot only 35.1 C OR 0.6 C higher at Eno at 15.30 (1)
  36. [1] (c) (iv) Guyot building/north facing side in shade (1)
  37. Eno building/south facing side in sun (1)
  38. Heating may have been switched on in Eno not in Guyot (1)
  39. [1] (c) (v) Colour of ground surface (albedo)/ability to reflect or absorb heat (1)
  40. Type of land-use/vegetation/ground material (1)
  41. Height above sea level (1)
  42. Type of building materials (1)
  43. Shelter from/exposure to wind (1)
  44. Presence of water/lake so differential heating/cooling/humidity (1)
  45. [2] (c) (vi) Take temperature readings at closer distances/more sites on the day (1)
  46. Take temperature readings at other/more times in the day (1)
  47. Take temperature readings on more/different days (1)
  48. Check readings in pairs/with a partner/within group (1)
  49. [1] (d) (i) The amount of moisture in the air as a percentage of the total moisture it could hold at that temperature.
  50. [4] (d) (ii) 1 mark MAX for stating the difference
  51. e.g. Dry bulb/thermometer on LHS shows higher temperature (1)
  52. Wet bulb or thermometer RHS shows lower temperature (1)
  53. Dry 24 C and Wet 15C/dry is 9 C higher (1)
  54. Three marks max for reasons for differences
  55. Dry bulb/LHS thermometer higher because:
  56. Exposed to the air giving the air temperature (1)
  57. Dry bulb/LHS thermometer is higher as no cooling effects on the bulb (1)
  58. Wet bulb/RHS thermometer is lower because:
  59. Bulb linked to container of water (1)
  60. Bulb wrapped in cloth/muslin/wick (1)
  61. This keeps the bulb continuously moist/cool (1)
  62. Heat lost in evaporating water/moisture (1)
  63. [2] (d) (iii) Wet bulb temperature = 15°C
  64. Difference = 9 °C (1)
  65. Relative humidity = 36% (1)
  66. 1 mark for calculation ALLOW ECF.

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About this question

Topic
The natural environment, O-Level Geography (syllabus 2217). Structured question, 30 marks.
Source
O-Level Geography, Oct/Nov 2015 Paper 2 Variant 2, question 7.

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