Why Is It Important?

Name:______6th Grade Science Date:______Launch into the Atmosphere What is it!?

A layer of ______around Earth, That is made up of about ______nitrogen, _____ oxygen, and trace amounts of other gases (carbon dioxide, water vapor, argon).

Why is it important?

 The atmosphere protects us by absorbing harmful ______(UV) rays

from the sun.

 It reduces ______changes between day and night.

 It provides us with the ______we need to breath and the carbon dioxide

______need to perform photosynthesis.

Density

 The atmosphere is thicker, or denser, closer to the ______.

 The atmosphere gets thinner, or less dense, the ______up you go.

 This means the amount of gases present ______and the molecules are spread

farther apart as altitude ______.

Air Pressure

 Air pressure is the measure of the ______with which the air

molecules push on a surface.

 Air pressure changes throughout the atmosphere.

 At sea level, air pressure is ______pounds per square inch.

 Heating the air causes the molecules to move ______and to spread

______apart. The more you heat them, the faster they move.  If you cool them, they ______

______. Cold air molecules slow down

and move ______together.

Fill in the diagram of the air molecules

High & Low Pressure Systems  If a high pressure system is on its way, often you can expect ______temperatures and ______skies. o It is “high” pressure because when air is cooled it is ______. When air is compressed it is under “high pressure”.

 If a low pressure system is coming, then look for ______weather, storms and ______. o It is “low” pressure because when air is heated it ______and is less compressed. When air is not compressed it is under “low pressure”. The 5 Layers of the Atmosphere

Troposphere  The troposphere is the layer closest to the earth.

 The temperature ______as altitude increases.

 Most ______occurs in this layer.

 ______of the gas molecules in the atmosphere are found in

this layer.

Stratosphere  The stratosphere is the second layer in the atmosphere.

 The temperature ______as altitude increases.

 The top of this layer is about 50km above the earth's surface

and where most commercial jets fly because there is _____

weather to disturb them.

 The ______is found in this layer.

Answer the following questions while watching Ozzy Ozone

o What do the ozone molecules do?

______

o What happens after the Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) weaken

the ozone?

______

______o Name two ways UV rays are harmful

1. ______

______

2. ______

______

o If no more chemicals were released in to the atmosphere how many years

would it take for the ozone layer to fully repair itself? ______

Mesosphere  The Mesosphere is the middle layer of the atmosphere.

 The ______layer and the higher you go the

colder its gets.

 It can get as cold as ______°F.

Thermosphere  The thermosphere is the fourth layer of the atmosphere.

 Temperature ______, as altitude increases.

 The temperature can be more than ______°F.

 The thermosphere includes a reign called the ______.

o The ionosphere allows for long distance radio communication

because it reflects the radio waves back to earth.

o The ______(also known as the northern lights)

are found in the ionosphere.

 Space shuttles orbit in the upper part of the thermosphere.

Exosphere  The exosphere is last layer of the atmosphere.

 Air molecules are ______spread out.

 It contains mostly ______and ______.

 Beyond the exosphere is outer space. There is no definite ______

between the two. How are the boundaries of each layer defined?

The changes in ______define the layers of the atmosphere.

Graph the temperature changes in each level

Bill Nye: Greatest Discoveries- Atmosphere

 Answer the following questions while watching

o Troposphere means sphere of ______

o Stratosphere means sphere of ______

Heating the Earth Radiation  Radiation is the transfer of energy as ______waves.

 The Earth receives energy from the ______by radiation.

*Fill in the percentages

for each box

Conduction

 Conduction is the transfer of thermal energy from one material to another by

______contact.

o Example: Think of walking barefoot on a hot sidewalk. Thermal energy is

______from the sidewalk to your feet.

Convection

 Convection is the transfer of thermal energy by the circulation or movement of a

______or ______. Heating the Earth Video:

 Answer the following while watching the video

o As the surface of the earth heats up, it heats the air above it and rises and

as it rises what happens? ______

o The differences in ______between the land and sea greatly influence

local weather.

o When water evaporates from a puddle what does it carry with it?

______

The Greenhouse Effect

The Greenhouse Effect is the heating process in which the ______in the atmosphere

______thermal energy. Fill in the diagram below to explain the greenhouse effect

Global Warming

 Global Warming is a rise in ______global temperatures.

 An increase in greenhouse gases, like ______, is believed

to have caused an increase in global warming.

MythBusters: The Great Ice Debate

 Answer the following while watching the video

o What were the Mythbusters testing? ______

______

o What were the results? ______

______