Earth's Atmosphere

Refer to the image of Earth from space. What does Earth’s atmosphere do?

• It protects life by absorbing harmful radiation, helps regulate temperature, and provides essential gases like oxygen and carbon dioxide.

• It is a solid shell that causes earthquakes and volcanoes.

• It removes all heat from Earth, making the planet permanently frozen.

• It is empty space with no gases or effects on the planet.

List all the layers of Earth's atmosphere in order from lowest to highest.

• Troposphere; Stratosphere; Mesosphere; Thermosphere; Exosphere

• Stratosphere; Troposphere; Mesosphere; Thermosphere; Exosphere

• Troposphere; Mesosphere; Stratosphere; Thermosphere; Exosphere

• Troposphere; Stratosphere; Thermosphere; Mesosphere; Exosphere

Warm Up: Explain where the Ozone layer is and what it does. Choose the best description.

• In the stratosphere; it absorbs most of the Sun’s harmful ultraviolet radiation.

• In the troposphere; it creates most of Earth’s weather.

• In the exosphere; it reflects radio waves back to Earth.

• In Earth’s core; it generates heat for the planet.

What is the ozone layer, and is it good or bad?

• A region of ozone high in the stratosphere that absorbs harmful ultraviolet radiation; it is good because it protects life.

• A layer of smog at Earth’s surface that causes pollution; it is bad.

• A cloud layer that reflects visible sunlight; it is neutral.

• A layer of greenhouse gases that warms the planet; it is bad.

What are greenhouse gases and are they good or bad?

• Gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, and water vapor that trap heat in the atmosphere; they are good in natural amounts but too much is harmful.

• Gases that block all sunlight from reaching Earth; they are always bad.

• Only human-made chemicals with no natural sources; they are bad.

• Oxygen and nitrogen that make air breathable; they are good.

Refer to the pie chart showing atmospheric composition (Nitrogen 78%, Oxygen 21%, Argon, Carbon Dioxide, etc. 0.98%, Water vapor up to 2%). Which gas is the most abundant in Earth’s atmosphere?

• Nitrogen

• Oxygen

• Argon

• Carbon dioxide

According to the atmospheric pie chart (Nitrogen 78%, Oxygen 21%, Argon/Carbon Dioxide/etc. 0.98%, Water vapor up to 2%), approximately what percentage of the atmosphere is oxygen?

• 21%

• 78%

• 0.98%

• Up to 2%

In the pie chart of atmospheric composition, which component is labeled as varying up to 2%?

• Water vapor

• Carbon dioxide

• Argon

• Oxygen

From the atmospheric composition chart, approximately what percentage of the atmosphere is nitrogen?

• 78%

• 21%

• 2%

• 0.98%

Based on the diagram titled “Thermosphere,” what does the root word “therm” mean?

• Cold

• Heat

• Light

• Wind

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

NGSS.MS-PS3-4