wayground logo

Free Printable Worksheets

Font size

S
M
L
XL
Worksheets

Earth's Atmosphere

Total questions: 93

Worksheet time: 1hrs 7mins

Name
Class
Date
1.
What is the most common gas in the atmosphere?
a)
nitrogen
b)
oxygen
c)
water vapor
d)
carbon dioxide
2.
Oxygen makes up approximately ____% of the gases in the atmosphere.
a)
20
b)
40
c)
60
d)
80
3.
What decreases with altitude throughout Earth's atmosphere?
a)
density
b)
pressure
c)
density and pressure
d)
temperature and density
4.
What is the correct order of earth's atmospheric layers from bottom to top?
a)
Stratosphere, Mesosphere, Troposphere, Thermosphere, Exosphere.
b)
Stratosphere, Troposphere, Mesosphere, Thermosphere, Exosphere.
c)
Stratosphere, Troposphere, Thermosphere, Mesosphere, Exosphere.
d)
Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, Thermosphere, Exosphere.
5.
Why is atmospheric pressure greatest in the troposphere?
a)
gravity compresses the atmosphere as it pushes the gases down
b)
thermal and kinetic energy are the highest near the surface
c)
the coldest temperatures in the atmosphere are at Earth's surface
d)
the matter in the troposphere is the least dense
6.
Which layer of the atmosphere has the highest density of gas molecules and highest atmospheric pressure?
a)
troposphere
b)
mesosphere
c)
stratosphere
d)
thermosphere
7.
What is the atmospheric layer closest to the surface?
a)
troposphere
b)
stratosphere
c)
mesosphere
d)
thermosphere
8.
Directly above the troposphere is the _________.
a)
stratosphere
b)
mesosphere
c)
exosphere
d)
thermosphere
9.
Within the stratosphere is the ozone layer. What does the ozone layer do?
a)
It protects us from meteors
b)
It protects us from violent solar flares
c)
It protects us from ultra violet radiation
d)
It helps us breathe
10.
Directly above the stratosphere is the _________.
a)
mesosphere
b)
troposphere
c)
thermosphere
d)
exosphere
11.
In which two layers does temperature decrease with altitude?
a)
mesosphere and troposphere
b)
troposphere and stratosphere
c)
stratosphere and thermosphere
d)
thermosphere and exosphere
12.
In which layer do virtually all weather phenomena take place?
a)
troposphere
b)
mesosphere
c)
stratosphere
d)
thermosphere
13.
Temperature in the stratosphere warms as altitude increases.
a)
True
b)
False
14.
What percentage of our atmosphere is made up of other gases such as argon, water vapor, and carbon dioxide?
a)
1%
b)
21%
c)
78%
d)
90%
15.
What is the percentage of oxygen in Earth's atmosphere?
a)
1%
b)
21%
c)
78%
d)
90%
16.
What is the percentage of nitrogen in Earth's atmosphere?
a)
1%
b)
21%
c)
78%
d)
90%
17.
What causes the temperature to increase in the stratosphere?
a)
Nitrogen
b)
Ozone
c)
Water Vapor
d)
carbon dioxide
18.
What are the 2 most abundant gases in Earth's atmosphere?
a)
carbon dioxide and oxygen
b)
carbon dioxide and nitrogen
c)
nitrogen and oxygen
d)
nitrogen and hydrogen 
19.
Which of the following is NOT a reason why the atmosphere is important?
a)
It is made of many layers.
b)
It provides gases living things need.
c)
It provides warm temperatures.
d)
It protects us from UV rays and meteors.
20.
Where you will find the ozone layer.
a)
stratosphere
b)
thermosphere
c)
exosphere
d)
mesosphere
21.
As you go higher in the troposphere, the temperature _______________.
a)
decreases
b)
increases
c)
stays the same
d)
gets very hot
22.
Which layer of the atmosphere do most satellites orbit the Earth?
a)
Stratosphere
b)
Mesosphere
c)
Exosphere
d)
Ionosphere
23.
A mixture of gases and particles that surround a planet, held by gravity is called the-
a)
greenhouse effect
b)
atmosphere
c)
jet stream
d)
blanket
24.
A mixture of gases and particles that surround a planet, held by gravity is called the-
a)
greenhouse effect
b)
atmosphere
c)
jet stream
d)
blanket
25.
Which layer protects the earth from meteors?
a)
Troposphere
b)
Stratosphere
c)
Mesosphere
d)
Thermosphere
26.

The Northen Lights that we see come from which layer?

a)

Troposphere

b)

Exosphere

c)

Thermosphere

d)

Mesosphere

27.

Temperature DECREASES as you INCREASE with altitude in the stratosphere?

a)

True

b)

False

28.

Weather occurs in the thermosphere?

a)

True

b)

False

29.

How high above Earth's surface does the stratosphere go?

a)

50 km

b)

10 km

c)

100 km

d)

32 km

30.

What is the hottest layer of the atmosphere?

a)

Troposphere

b)

Mesosphere

c)

Exosphere

d)

Thermosphere

31.

The _____ protects us from Earth's harmful UV rays.

a)

Ozone

b)

Troposphere

c)

Clouds

d)

Exosphere

32.

What happens to air pressure the higher up in space you go?

a)

air pressure stays constant

b)

air pressure increases

c)

air pressure deceases

d)

there is no air pressure

33.

The layer of earths atmosphere with most of Earth's water vapor?

a)

Exosphere

b)

Thermosphere

c)

Mesosphere

d)

Troposphere

34.

What helps to make the thermosphere the warmest layer in the atmosphere?

a)

Clouds

b)

Meteors

c)

UV Rays

d)

Ozone

35.

The exosphere is the coldest layer?

a)

True

b)

False

36.

Water vapor is one of the two main gases found in

Earth's atmosphere

a)

True

b)

False

37.

The transfer of energy from a warm object to a cooler object.

a)

density

b)

heat

c)

solar radiation

d)

radiation

38.

The transfer of heat through molecular contact.

a)

heat

b)

conduction

c)

convection

d)

radiation

39.

The transfer of heat through the movement of molecules due to density differences.

a)

heat

b)

conduction

c)

convection

d)

radiation

40.

The transfer of heat through electromagnetic waves.

a)

heat

b)

conduction

c)

convection

d)

radiation

41.

The measure of the average movement of the particles in an object or how hot or cold an object is.

a)

heat

b)

temperature

c)

thermometer

d)

density

42.

Energy from the Sun that travels in waves, including ultraviolet, infrared and visible light.

a)

heat

b)

conduction

c)

convection

d)

solar radiation

43.

The point when substances have reached the same temperature and heat no longer flows between them.

a)

temperature

b)

heat

c)

thermal equilibrium

d)

conduction

44.

What happens when radiation comes in contact with a cloud ?

it is...

a)

Absorbed

b)

reflected

c)

transmitted

45.

Visible light ranges from which colours (shortest wavelength to longest wavelength)

a)

Orange to violet

b)

Violet to red

c)

Greed to Yellow

d)

Red to Green

46.

Which of the following models most accurately represents the air circulation patterns likely to develop on a hot summer afternoon in a coastal area?

a)
b)
c)
d)
47.

What makes global winds curve rather than move in straight lines North and South?

a)

Coriolis Effect

b)

Density of the air

c)

Temperature of the air

d)

Pressure of the air

48.

Global winds are caused by differences in pressure caused by:

a)

warm air rising at the equator and cold air sinking at the poles

b)

warm air sinking at the equator and cold air rising at the pole.

c)

Warm air rising at the equator and cold air rising at the poles

d)

warm air sinking at the equator and cold air sinking at the poles

49.

Jordan researched the hourly temperatures of an ocean and a land mass near each other. Each morning Jordan discovered the land and ocean had a similar temperature. For the rest of the day the sun continues to warm the ocean and the land. During the day, which direction will the wind MOST LIKELY blow?

a)

Toward the land

b)

Toward the ocean

c)

Remain still

d)

not enough data to tell

50.

Which of the following is NOT a contributing factor to the uneven warming of Earth’s surface?

a)

Different surfaces warm at different rates

b)

Different surfaces retain energy differently

c)

The sun is farther from the Earth during the winter

d)

The sun’s rays hit the surface at various angles

51.

Which of the following statements best explains why it is warmer at the equator than the North Pole?

a)

The equator has more daylight hours per year than the North Pole.

b)

The equator has a larger area than the North Pole.

c)

The equator is closer to the Sun than the North pole.

d)

The equator receives more direct sunlight than the North Pole.

52.

During the daytime, the land warms up faster than water causing the air above the land to be less dense and rise into the atmosphere. This causes _____________________.

a)

sea breezes

b)

land breezes

c)

global winds

d)

jet streams

53.

With the exception of the first few meters closest to the ground, how is the majority of Earth’s atmosphere heated?

a)

Convection because warm air rises and cold air sinks

b)

Conduction because warm air rises and cold air sinks

c)

Convection because cold air rises and warm air sinks

d)

Conduction because cold air rises and warm air sinks

54.

Meteorologists often look at differences in air pressure when they are trying to predict the weather. Why do these differences occur?

a)

The sun heats different places at different rates

b)

The Moon’s gravity has a different strength at different places

c)

Earth’s rotation makes different places move at different speeds

d)

Volcanoes add different amounts of heat and gas to the air in different places

55.

Which statement about Earth's heating patterns is true?

a)

The rate of cooling depends on the season.

b)

Large bodies of water cool more quickly than land.

c)

Land cools more quickly than large bodies of water.

d)

Land and large bodies of water cool at the same rate.

56.

During an experiment, you were instructed to equally heat a sample of soil and a sample of water with heat lamps, and then measure the temperature of each sample once per minute, for eight minutes. Suppose that the experiment yielded the results shown in the table below. which of the following predictions are supported the best by the data?

a)

The temperatures of the soil and the water would rise at the same average rate because the same light is being used to heat it up.

b)

The temperature of the soil would not rise at all over the next time period because the soil temperature has reached its maximum temperature.

c)

The temperature of the water would rise at a faster average rate than the average rate that the temperature of the soil would rise because water heats up faster than soil.

d)

The temperature of the soil would rise at a faster average rate than the average rate that the temperature of the water would rise because soil heats up faster than water.

57.

Students completed a lab investigation consisting of four stations, A, B, C, and D. Equal amounts of sand at the same starting temperature were heated by identical light sources. The light sources were the same distance from each station but at different angles to the surface. Two thermometers were used at each station, one just above the surface and the other just below the surface. The lights were turned on for 30 minutes and then removed for the next 30 minutes. Temperatures were recorded each minute for the 60 minutes. Using the models above, which station was most of the energy from the light sources transferred to the sand?

a)

Station A, because the sand is receiving the most direct heat transfer by radiation.

b)

Station A, because the sand is receiving the most direct heat transfer by conduction.

c)

Station D, because the sand is receiving the most direct heat transfer by radiation.

d)

Station D, because the sand is receiving the most direct heat transfer by conduction.

58.

Sarah has been asked by her teacher to investigate the following scientific question: Why are sea breezes felt during the day and land breezes at night? Which of the following data sources would best help Sarah to answer the question and why?

a)

The tidal charts for the month, because high tides cool off the beach, causing a sea breeze at night and a land breeze during the day.

b)

The tidal charts for the month, because high tides cool off the beach, causing a land breeze at night and a sea breeze during the day.

c)

Day and night temperatures of the beach and ocean, because the land and the air above it heats and cools faster than the water, causing a land breeze at night and a sea breeze during the day.

d)

Day and night temperatures of the beach and ocean, because the sea and the air above it heats and cools faster than the land, causing a sea breeze at night and a land breeze during the day.

59.

What is the result of an increase in greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, in our atmosphere?

a)

The atmosphere is getting larger

b)

The atmosphere is getting cooler

c)

The atmosphere is getting warmer

d)

The atmosphere is getting smaller

60.

What are the two main greenhouse gases in our atmosphere?

a)

Carbon dioxide and Methane

b)

Carbon Dioxide and Nitrogen

c)

Carbon dioxide and Oxygen

d)

Oxygen and Methane

61.

Most of Earth’s weather occurs in the________________________.

a)

Mesosphere

b)

Stratosphere

c)

Thermosphere

d)

Troposphere

62.

Which of the following particles are found in the atmosphere?

a)

Dust

b)

Volcanic Ash

c)

Smoke

d)

All of the above

63.

As you go up into the layers of the atmosphere ________________________.

a)

Air pressure increases

b)

Air pressure decreases

c)

air column increases

d)

air column decreases

64.

Water heats up and cools more slowly than

a)

Land

b)

Air

65.

Land heats up and cools relatively

a)

slowly

b)

quickly

66.

Movement of air from area of high pressure to area of lower pressure

a)

Jet stream

b)

Coriolis effect

c)

Wind

d)

Doldrum

67.

What causes the distinct pattern of wind called prevailing winds?

a)

Coriolis Effect

b)

Tornadoes

c)

Hurricanes

d)

Storm surges

68.

In the US, which way do jet streams flow?

a)

East to West

b)

North to South

c)

West to East

d)

South to North

69.

What temperature of surface air do polar jet streams transport?

a)

Cold

b)

Warm

70.

What temperature of surface air do subtropical jet streams transport?

a)

Cold

b)

Warm

71.

Jet streams can move at speeds up to _____ km/h.

a)

50

b)

150

c)

250

d)

300

72.

Why are they called trade winds?

a)

Sailors didn't know what else to call them.

b)

Traders used the winds to travel from the North to South America

c)

Land settlers used them when traveling to the west.

d)

Traders used the winds to travel from Europe to the Americas.

73.

Which way do the prevailing westerlies flow?

a)

From west to east

b)

From east to west

c)

From north to south

d)

From south to north

74.

Which way does a sea breeze blow?

a)

From top to bottom

b)

From the land to the sea

c)

From the sea to the land

d)

All of the above.

75.

Does a sea breeze occur during the day or at night?

a)

Day

b)

Night

76.

Which way does a land breeze blow?

a)

From the sea to the land

b)

From the land to the sea

c)

South to North

77.

Does a land breeze occur during the day or night?

a)

Day

b)

Night

78.

The amount of energy an area receives depends on

a)

Earth's atmosphere

b)

The seasons

c)

The Sun's Angle

d)

The Sun's distance from Earth.

79.

What is the area of little or no wind called?

a)

Hadley Cell

b)

Farrell Cell

c)

Doldrums

80.

Why can flying from Seattle to Boston take less time than flying from Boston to Seattle in the same aircraft?

a)

From Boston to Seattle you are flying into the jet stream.

b)

From Boston to Seattle you are flying with the jet stream.

c)

From Seattle to Boston you are flying into the jet stream.

d)

From Seattle to Boston you are flying with the jet stream

81.

Why are the areas near the equator always warm?

a)

More sunlight per unit of surface area at the equator.

b)

The Earth is closer to the sun at the equator

c)

The interior of the Earth is hotter at the equator

d)

The sun likes to shine only on the equator.

82.

Ground level ozone (also known as tropospheric ozone) is ______________________.

a)

a significant source of air pollution and contributes to the formation of smog

b)

also found in the exosphere

c)

found only in rural areas

d)

a significant source of air pollution and contributes to the increase in the hole in the ozone layer.

83.

Ozone is made up of __________________ oxygen atoms.

a)

3

b)

2

c)

1

d)

5

84.

"Criteria Air Pollutants" were established by the _________________________________.

a)

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

b)

Department of the Interior (DI)

c)

Center for Disease Control (CDC)

d)

United Nations (UN)

85.

Nitrous oxides enter the atmosphere from _____________________.

a)

fossil fuels

b)

meteorites

c)

ozone depletion

d)

CFC's

86.

Chlorofluorocarbons is represented by the abbreviation _________________.

a)

CFC

b)

ChFC

c)

Chl

d)

hydrocarbons

87.

Bad or Hazardous ozone is found in the _______________________________.

a)

troposphere

b)

stratosphere

c)

mesosphere

d)

thermosphere

88.

The most common source of carbon monoxide comes from _____________________________.

a)

vehicles

b)

swamp gases

c)

industrial sources

d)

none of these

89.

Which of the following is an adverse health effect from air pollution?

a)

allergic reactions

b)

bronchial inflammation

c)

eye and lung irritants

d)

All of these are correct

90.
One cause of ________________ is the burning of coal that contains a lot of sulfur.
a)
acid rain
b)
soot
91.
Over the past 30 years, air quality in the United States has generally _______________
a)
improved
b)
declined
92.
Harmful substances in air, water, or soil are called ________________.
a)
pollutants
b)
particles
93.
The majority of air pollution comes from __________________.
a)
burning fossil fuels
b)
particulate matter