ENV 11

Question 1

ATMOSPHERE

Answer 1

A dynamic envelope of gases extending about 62 miles up from Earths surface that clings to our planet because of its gravitational pull.

Question 2

Can a settling mass of polluted air be deadly?

Answer 2

Yes.

Question 3

What happened in Donora, PA?

Answer 3

A front of warm air moved over the town and trapped a cooler layer of air thick with pollution from the town’s steel mills near the surface. This killed 20 ppl and 1/3 of the pop. got sick

Question 4

Are humans changing the fundamental mix of what is in the air no matter where they are located in the world?

Answer 4

Yes

Question 5

With our air and atmosphere changing, what impacts on our quality of life?

Answer 5

Increased pollution, increased exposure to UV radiation & extreme weather

Question 6

Vague example of what air around us is made of

Answer 6

Idling cars, AC and heating systems and other machines processing the air around us

Question 7

What is Earth’s atmosphere made of?

Answer 7

78% Nitrogen & 20% Oxygen as well as argon, Carbon Dioxide, water, vapor, and other compounds

Question 8

Define Pressure

Answer 8

The force exerted on or acting against something

Question 9

What happens if you put more air (bouncing gas molecules) into a balloon?

Answer 9

The pressure inside the balloon increases as more molecules press against the balloon walls.

Question 10

What if you squeeze the balloon?

Answer 10

decrease of volume, the gas molecules bump into the walls more frequently, increasing the pressure inside.

Question 11

All gasses inc. air move from

Answer 11

areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure

Question 12

What causes the lower layer air molecules to be more tightly packed than those in the upper layers?

Answer 12

The weight of the air at the top of the cylinder is pressing down on the lower layers of air forcing the air molecules in the lower layer closer together which causes it to be more tightly packed than the upper layer.

Question 13

Air pressure of the atmosphere increases or decreases closer to the surface?

Answer 13

Increases

Question 14

the air as getting “thinner” at increasing altitudes as the

Answer 14

gas molecules are more dispersed and the air is therefore less dense

Question 15

Whats an example of the air getting thinner and less dense in the Earths Surface?

Answer 15

Mt. Everest & other Himalayan peaks.= death zone bcs the human body cannot. access enough oxygen in these thin air environments to sustain vital functions for extended periods of time.

Question 16

Earths Atmosphere Four layers

Answer 16

troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere and thermosphere

Question 17

Where is the most atmosphere’s mass?

Answer 17

5- 10 mile thick later closest to Earths surface aka TROPOSPHERE

Question 18

What is the Troposphere?

Answer 18

the lowest area of the atmosphere where Earth’s weather occurs.

Question 19

What is the air like in the troposphere layer?

Answer 19

it rises, sinks churns and mixes as it warms and cools. it also holds the most water vapor in the atmosphere

Question 20

Whats the temperature like in the troposphere layer?

Answer 20

Familiar temperatures here on earth surface to extreme cold temp of -76F. this high temperature is in area known as the TROPOPAUSE

Question 21

What is the tropopause?

Answer 21

The area at the top of the troposphere of -76F. Most water vapor condenses and forms clouds when it reaches the TROPOPAUSE, which helps Earth retain its water.

Question 22

What is the Stratosphere?

Answer 22

the layer above the troposphere. it holds a layer of ozone that protects and warms the Earth.

Question 23

Compared to the troposphere,

Answer 23

very little water vapor & calm

Question 24

What abundant molecule does the stratosphere have for the life on Earth?

Answer 24

OZONE (O3)

Question 25

How does the ozone form?

Answer 25

When three oxygen atoms bonds together and is a less stable form of the element oxygen that the o2 that we breathe.

Question 26

What is the mesosphere?

Answer 26

The layer of the atmosphere above the stratosphere. It has Earths coldest temperatures and is where most meteors burn up

Question 27

What is the Thermosphere

Answer 27

The top layer of the atmosphere that is warmer because of the influx of solar and cosmic radiation

Question 28

At what level are air molecules more scattered offering little frictional resistance to spacecraft?

Answer 28

Thermosphere