Post Test - Unit 1 Earth's Atmosphere

Which of the following gases is the most abundant in Earth's Troposphere?

• Nitrogen (N2)
• Oxygen (O2)
• Argon (Ar)
• Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

What is the percent of oxygen within the Earth's Troposphere?

• 78%
• 21%
• 1%
• none of these

As you increase the altitude in the atmosphere, air pressure and density

• increase, this is due to the surface area of the atmosphere increasing with increasing altitude.
• decrease, the is due to the surface area of the atmosphere increasing with increasing altitude.
• remain the same.
• there is no change within the air pressure and density as you increase the altitude within the atmosphere.

As you increase altitude within the troposphere, temperature

• increases, this is due to that the Earth radiates the heat back to space
• decreases, this is due to that the Earth radiates the heat back towards space
• stays the same
• does not change

The stratosphere is important due to that

• it has an ozone layer, within which it protects life from infrared radiation which would otherwise cause us to burn.
• it has an ozone layer, within which it protects life from ultra-violet radiation which would otherwise cause us to burn.
• it burns up meteors.
• contains the aurora borealis.

As the altitude increases in the stratosphere, temperature tends to

• decrease
• increase
• stay the same
• none of these

The mesosphere is an important layer within the atmosphere due to that

• this is the layer where weather occurs.
• this is the layer where the ozone layer is located, within which it absorbs UV radiation.
• this layer burns up the meteors and comets that enter the Earth's mesosphere. This is due to the particles heating the objects as they enter the atmosphere.
• this is the layer where the space shuttle is located.

Temperatures tend to ________ within the mesosphere.

• increase, which makes it the hottest atmospheric layer
• decrease, which makes it the coldest atmospheric layer
• remain the same
• do not change

Temperatures in the thermosphere tend to

• increase, this is due to the UV radiation being able to penetrate the through this part of Earth's Atmosphere.
• decrease, this is due to that it is very cold in space.
• remain the same
• does not change

The earth re-radiates this type of energy back towards outer space?

• UV Radiation
• Infrared Radiation
• X-Ray Radiation
• Nuclear Radiation