The atmosphere (worksheet #1)

Question 1

What is the atmosphere?

Answer 1

Layer of air surrounding the Earth which extends more than 10,000KM above the Earth’s surface and made up of gases essential to life on our planet

Question 2

What are the 4 functions of the atmosphere?

Answer 2

1. Acts as a screen
2. Retains heat
3. Contains oxygen
4. Contains carbon dioxide

Question 3

1. How does the atmosphere act as a screen?
2. Why does it retain heat?
3. What is oxygen necessary for?
4. What is carbon dioxide necessary for?

Answer 3

1. Blocks out dangerous rays from the sun
2. Relatively stable climate
3. Cellular respiration
4. Photosynthesis

Question 4

What is the greenhouse effect?

Answer 4

A natural process that allows the Earth to retain some of the heat from the Sun

Question 5

What are the 4 greenhouse gases in the atmosphere?

Answer 5

1. Carbon dioxide (CO2)
2. Water vapour (H2O)
3. Methane (CH4)
4. Nitrous oxide (N2O)

Question 6

What do the greenhouse gases ensure?

Answer 6

That Earth can have an average surface temperature that supports life (Earth would be much colder if the greenhouse gases weren’t present)

Question 7

How come Venus is too hot, Mars is too cold, but Earth is just right?

Answer 7

Venus has too many greenhouse gases while Mars doesn’t have enough

Question 8

How does the greenhouse effect work?

Answer 8

1. The sun releases solar radiation which is mostly absorbed by the ground
2. Now heated ground emits infrared rays into atmosphere. Rays pass through atmosphere and into space
3. Others hit greenhouse gases and sent back to Earth, heating it up more

Question 9

Explain the cycle of carbon dioxide.

Answer 9

Released by cellular respiration, volcanic emissions and forest fires. Reabsorbed by photosynthesis and the ocean.

Question 10

Why is man’s dependence on the combustion of fossil fuels bad?

Answer 10

Billions of tonnes of greenhouse gases have been released into the atmosphere

Question 11

How is even more carbon dioxide being released?

Answer 11

Land is cleared for farming and burning of forests=> reduction in photosynthesis

Question 12

What does everything humans have done cause?

Answer 12

Climate change

Question 13

Which greenhouse gas is emitted into the atmosphere the most?

Answer 13

Carbon dioxide

Question 14

What is methane released by?

Answer 14

Farm animals, manure, storage, rice farming, decomposing household waste

Question 15

What is nitrous oxide released by?

Answer 15

Nitrogen rich fertilizers

Question 16

What is wind energy?

Answer 16

Energy obtained from the wind

Question 17

How does a wind turbine function?

Answer 17

1. The wind hits the blades which turns the rotor
2. This spins the main shaft
3. This causes the electric generator in the nacelle to be activated which creates electricity

Question 18

What are the advantages of wind energy?

Answer 18

1. Renewable resource

2. No greenhouse gases are emitted

Question 19

What are the disadvantages on wind energy?

Answer 19

1. Aesthetically unpleasant
2. Unpredictable wind speed
3. Wind energy cannot be contained
4. Usually combined with hydroelectric dams