Earth’s Atmosphere: Science 2.1
This deck covers key concepts about Earth's atmosphere, including its composition, the importance of different gases, and the characteristics of atmospheric layers.
What is Earth's atmosphere made of?
The most abundant gas in Earth's atmosphere is NITROGEN, followed by OXYGEN, which is needed to burn wood and fuel. The third-most abundant gas is ARGON. The amount of CARBON DIOXIDE in the atmosphere is very small, making up just 0.033% of the atmosphere, but it is very important because plants use it to make simple sugars. Another important gas is water vapor, which condenses around SMALL PARTICLES in the atmosphere to form clouds and then rain.
Key Terms
What is Earth's atmosphere made of?
The most abundant gas in Earth's atmosphere is NITROGEN, followed by OXYGEN, which is needed to burn wood and fuel. The third-most abundant gas is ...
Fill in the blanks to complete the sentences about why Earth's atmosphere is important to living things.
* Earth's atmosphere provides OXYGEN that animals need to breathe.
* The atmosphere keeps Earth warm, allowing WATER to exist as a liquid.
* ...
Which statements correctly describe the properties of air? Select three options.
* Air pressure is created by the weight of the atmosphere pushing on Earth's surface.
* Denser air is heavier than less dense air.
* Air is l...
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| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
What is Earth's atmosphere made of? | The most abundant gas in Earth's atmosphere is NITROGEN, followed by OXYGEN, which is needed to burn wood and fuel. The third-most abundant gas is ARGON. The amount of CARBON DIOXIDE in the atmosphere is very small, making up just 0.033% of the atmosphere, but it is very important because plants use it to make simple sugars. Another important gas is water vapor, which condenses around SMALL PARTICLES in the atmosphere to form clouds and then rain. |
Fill in the blanks to complete the sentences about why Earth's atmosphere is important to living things. | * Earth's atmosphere provides OXYGEN that animals need to breathe. |
Which statements correctly describe the properties of air? Select three options. | * Air pressure is created by the weight of the atmosphere pushing on Earth's surface. |
Which image shows the place where the pressure and density of the atmosphere would be lowest? | MOUNTAINS |
On a warm summer day, a severe storm happens, and a tornado forms. Which layer of the atmosphere is experiencing this storm? | TROPOSHERE |
During an evening hike, you see a shooting star. In which layer of the atmosphere does this shooting star occur? | MESOPHERE |
One evening, you see the northern lights. In which layer of the atmosphere do the northern lights occur? | THERMOSPHERE |
Use the drop-down menus to complete each sentence about the layers of the atmosphere. | * If the MESOPHERE did not exist, Earth might be destroyed by chunks of rock from space.
* The STRATOSPHERE is located 12 to 50 kilometers from Earth's surface.
* Both the MESOPHERE AND TROPOSPHERE get colder as altitude increases.
* The ozone in the STRATOSPHERE protects people from ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
* The THERMOSPHERE has the highest temperature of any layer in Earth's atmosphere. |
Which gas is most abundant in Earth's atmosphere? | NITROGEN |
Which is one way that Earth's atmosphere supports life? | KEEPS EARTH WARM |
Joe, a hiker, stands at the top of a hill on a trail above the ocean. Joe's friend Dave is just starting out at the trailhead, which is at the beach. Which statement about this scenario is accurate? | If Joe keeps going up, air pressure will continue to decrease |
Which word describes the amount of matter an object contains? | MASS |
Which phrase describes density? | amount of mass in a certain volume |
The image shows a representation of mountains of various heights, numbered 1 (HIGHEST), 2, and 3. The plain is labeled number 4. At which point is air pressure lowest? | 1 (HIGHEST) |
Which phrase describes air density? | equals mass divided by volume |
As altitude increases, what happens to air pressure? | DECREASES |
Which gas in Earth's atmosphere has increased over time due to burning fossil fuels? | CARBON DIOXIDE |
Which atmospheric layer prevents meteoroids from reaching Earth's surface? | MESOPHERE |