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22 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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What is the atmosphere?
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Thin mixture of gases that surround our planet.
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What is the composition of our atmosphere?
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What is the composition of our atmosphere?
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. How does our atmosphere support life on the plane?
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• Provides us with oxygen
• Keeps surface warm so water can exist as a liquid • Protects us from dangerous radiation from the sun • Protects us from meteorites. |
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. How do plants and animals affect the amount of carbon dioxide and oxygen present in the atmosphere?
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Plants decrease the amount of carbon dioxide by using it in photosynthesis to make food and energy. They add oxygen to the atmosphere as a waste product. Animals us the oxygen to make energy and exhale carbon dioxide as a waste product.
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5. What is ozone and what does it do in the atmosphere?
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Ozone: three oxygen atoms “holding hands.” It forms a layer in the stratosphere and absorbs UV radiation from the Sun. This allows life to exist on the surface.
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6. What is water vapor?
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Water in the gas phase (state). It is invisible.
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7. Describe the Fahrenheit scale:
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Used in USA. Based on coldest temperature Dr. Fahrenheit could achieve. Water freezes at 32°F, boils at 212°F.
Absolute zero: -460°F |
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8. Describe the Celsius scale:
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Used by most of the world. Based on freezing/boiling points of water.
Water freezes at 0°C, boils at 100°F. Scientists use this scale. Also called centigrade scale. Absolute zero: -273°C |
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9. Describe the Kelvin scale:
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Based on absolute zero. Absolute zero is the theoretical point where all motion in the material would have stopped. Absolute zero: 0K, water freezes at 273K, water boils at 373K. Degrees are the same size as Celsius scale.
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10. Define:
Solid: Liquid: Gas: |
Solid: definite shape, definite volume
Liquid: no definite shape, definite volume Gas: no definite shape, no definite volume |
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10. Pressure:
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Pressure is force applied over an area. Pressure allows moves from high pressure to low pressure. Fluids exert pressure by the motion of the particles.
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10. barometers:
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Used by meteorologists to measure air pressure.
Mercury barometer has a mercury filled tube. The air pressure causes the mercury to rise/fall in the tube. Aneroid barometers use a vacuum filled metal can. Much cheaper/portable. |
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10. Units of air pressure:
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Inches of mercury: (“Hg)
Atmospheres: (atm) Kilopascals: (kPa) Millibars: (mb) 29.92”Hg=1.0atm=101.325kPa=1013.25mb |
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10. altitude v. density
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As the altitude increases the density decreases.
At high altitudes there are fewer molecules, but the percents of each element are the same. |
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10. Altitude v. Pressure
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As the altitude increases the pressure decreases. This is because there is less air pushing down on you the higher you go.
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10. How do we classify the layers of the atmosphere?
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By changes in temperature.
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10. troposphere:
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Lowest layer, weather occurs here, we live in it, tropo means turning or changing conditions, least thick layer, but has the most mass.
Gets colder as you increase altitude |
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10. stratosphere:
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“Strato” means to layer or spread out
Contains the ozone layer The ozone layer absorbs UV energy from sun, protecting us and warming the stratosphere |
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19. mesosphere:
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“Meso” means middle
Drop in temperature marks beginning of mesosphere Most meteors burn up here |
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20. thermosphere:
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Very top layer, extends to space, no definite edge
Air is very thin (1/1000th as dense as sea level) “thermo” means heat, air is very hot (1800°C)but so thin it would not feel warm at all Divided into 2 parts, ionosphere and exosphere |
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21. exosphere:
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“Exo” means outer
Extend for 1000’s of miles Satellites orbit here |
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22. Ionosphere:
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Energy from sun strips electrons from gas molecules, creating charged particles called ions.
Radio waves can bounce off ions, allowing radio waves to travel great distances Aurora borealis (Northern Lights)occurs here |
