Layers of the Atmosphere

Question 1

What is the atmosphere?

Answer 1

The atmosphere is the air that surrounds us and makes up the environment we live in.

Question 2

What are the primary gases in the atmosphere?

Answer 2

The primary gases are nitrogen (78%) and oxygen (21%).

Question 3

What are the layers of the Earth’s atmosphere in order from closest to the Earth’s surface to the outermost layer?

Answer 3

Troposphere
Stratosphere
Mesosphere
Thermosphere
Exosphere

Question 4

What is the troposphere?

Answer 4

The troposphere is the closest layer to the Earth’s surface, extending up to around 10-15 km.

Question 5

What is the stratosphere?

Answer 5

The stratosphere extends from the top of the troposphere up to around 50 km

Question 6

What is the mesosphere?

Answer 6

The mesosphere extends from the top of the stratosphere up to around 85 km

Question 7

What is the thermosphere?

Answer 7

The thermosphere extends from the top of the mesosphere and expands from 500 and 1,000 km

Question 8

What is the exosphere?

Answer 8

The exosphere is the outermost layer of Earth’s atmosphere, extending from about 100,000 km and 190,000 km

Question 9

What are the main components of the Earth’s atmosphere and their percentages?

Answer 9

Nitrogen: 78%
Oxygen: 21%
Argon: 0.9%
Other gases (including CO2): 0.1%

Question 10

What happens to air when it heats up?

Answer 10

It rises and the particles expand.