Characterictics of the Atmosphere

atmosphere

• mixture of gases that surrounds a planet or moon

• measure of force with which air molecules push on a surface

• distance from sea level

• a measure of the average energy of particles in motion

air pressure

• mixture of gases that surround a planet or moon

• measure of the force with which air molecules push on a surface

• distance from sea level

• a measure of the average energy of particles in motion (how fast the particles are moving)

altitude

• mixture of gases that surround a planet or moon

• distance from sea level

• measure of the force with which air molecules push on a surface

• measure of the average energy or particles in motion

oxygen

• this holds the atmosphere around the Earth

• the most common atmospheric gas

• the second most common atmospheric gas

• transfer of thermal energy between objects of different temperatures (particles must touch each other to transfer heat)

gravity

• this holds the atmosphere around the Earth

• most common atmospheric gas

• second most common atmospheric gas

• transfer of thermal energy between objects of different temperatures (particles must touch one another to transfer heat)

nitrogen

• this holds the atmosphere around Earth

• most common atmospheric gas

• second most common atmospheric gas

• transfer of thermal energy between objects of different temperatures (particles must touch one another to transfer heat)

troposphere

• layer above the troposphere (temperature decreases as you go higher)

• layer between the stratosphere and the thermosphere (temperature decreases as you go higher)

• uppermost layer (temperature increases as you go higher)

• lowest layer of the atmosphere (temperature decreases as you go higher)

stratosphere

• layer above the troposphere (temperature increases as you go higher)

• layer between the stratosphere and the thermosphere (temperature decreases as you go higher)

• uppermost layer of the atmosphere (temperature increases as you go higher)

• lowest layer of the atmosphere (temperature decreases as you go higher)

mesosphere

• layer above the troposphere (temperature increases as you go higher)

• layer between the stratosphere and the thermosphere (temperature decreases as you go higher)

• uppermost layer of the atmosphere (temperature increases as you go higher)

• lowest layer of the atmosphere (temperature decreases as you go higher)

thermosphere

• layer above the troposphere (temperature increases as you go higher)

• layer between the stratosphere and the thermosphere (temperature decreases as you go higher)

• uppermost layer of the atmosphere (temperature increases as you go higher)

• lowest layer of the atmosphere (temperature decreases as you go higher)