Author Question: What is the Earth's greatest distance from the sun? A) Apogee B) Perigee C) Aphelion D) ... (Read 82 times)

humphriesbr@me.com · **on:** Aug 22, 2018

What is the Earth's greatest distance from the sun?
A) Apogee
B) Perigee
C) Aphelion
D) Perihelion

Question 2

Why does ice float and why is this important for life in our ocean?

whitcassie · **Reply #1 on:** Aug 22, 2018

Answer to Question 1

C

Answer to Question 2

Most substances increase their density as temperatures decrease. This is the case for liquid water, but only until it reaches approximately 4C (or 39F). Below this temperature, water begins to decrease its density and expands by about 9 during the transition from liquid to solid state at the freezing point. Ice is less dense than water, so it floats.

The fact that ice floats is important in high latitudes. Not only does it give a surface for polar bears and other Arctic organisms to live on, it helps to insulate the ocean beneath from the extremely cold atmospheric temperatures. This allows the water to remain in a liquid form and be able to support the diversity of life that exists under the ice at high latitudes.