Atmosphere vocabulary

Question 1

Troposphere

Answer 1

The lowest layer of the Earth’s atmosphere. Air is heated in the troposphere from radiation that bounces off of the Earth’s surface.

Question 2

Exosphere

Answer 2

The outermost layer of the Earth’s atmosphere, before space.

Question 3

Ionosphere

Answer 3

Electronically charged particles that play a role in Earth’s everyday communications and navigation systems. For example, radio waves and GPS through the atmosphere (found between Thermosphere and Exosphere)

Question 4

Thermal energy

Answer 4

energy in the form of heat.
(The thermal energy of a substance is equal to the total kinetic energy of its atoms and/or molecules).

Question 5

Radiation

Answer 5

the transfer of energy through space or matter in the form of electromagnetic waves.
o Different types of radiation are distinguished by the wavelength of the waves.
o Types of radiation (from longest to shortest wavelength) include radio waves, microwaves, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, X-rays, and gamma rays.

Question 6

Conduction

Answer 6

the transfer of heat through a material or from one object to another by direct contact.

Question 7

Convection

Answer 7

the transfer of heat through the movement of matter.

Question 8

Stratosphere

Answer 8

the second layer of the atmosphere. This layer is located in between the Troposphere and the Mesosphere. The prefix Strato means layer. Within this layer, there is no weather, therefore, the bottom is cold air (heavy density) and the top is warm air (light density) as there is no turbulence to stir up the air.

Question 9

Mesosphere

Answer 9

the third layer of the atmosphere. This layer is located in between the Stratosphere and the Thermosphere. The prefix Meso means middle. Within this layer, the gases are all mixed up, the coldest at -130 ℉, and is 22 miles thick!

Question 10

Thermosphere

Answer 10

the fourth layer of the atmosphere. This layer is located in between the Mesosphere and the Exosphere. The prefix Thermo means heat. This layer absorbs all of the sun’s heat, therefore, this layer reaches up to 4,500 ℉. The International Space station is located here, satellites orbit the Earth here, and also the special layer, the ionosphere is located within the thermosphere.