Earth’s Atmosphere

Warm Up1. Is air a gas, liquid or solid? How do

you know?

2. What does air do when it gets warmer? Colder?

3. Why does hot air rise and cold air sink?

Think About it….You have lived in air all your life.

Write 5 facts about air that you already know.1.2.3. 4.5.

Balloon of AirObservations: stretchy balloon, has a

little bit of air in it

Data: Mass of balloon empty ______ g Mass of balloon with air

_______gInference: Air is matter. It has mass and

volume.

Cardboard BottomObservations: Empty clear cup filled with water,

covered with cardboard and inverted

Data: water remained in the cup

Inference: Air exerts pressure in all directions, even up

Spool in CupObservations: Beaker with water and a cork on

surface, cup inverted and lowered into water

Data: level of water in cup lower than beaker

Inference: air takes up space and cannot occupy the same space as other matter

2 Liter BottomObservations: Warm water poured into a two-

liter bottle and bottle closed and set in ice

Data: bottle began to collapse

Inference: Air pressure was lower inside the bottle than outside

Air Notes1. Air is composed of gases that

are invisible.2.Air exerts pressure (pushes) in all

directions.3.Air has mass.4.Air takes up space. (Other matter

cannot share the same space)5.Warm air expands, cool air contracts.

Candle Demo Warm Up1. What happened in the candle

demonstration?

2. What did this demonstration tell you about air?

3. What made the water move up into the flask?

Warm Up1. Define atmosphere.

2. What does the word altitude mean?

Gases in Our AtmosphereNitrogen - 78% - inert (not active) gas,

dilutes the amount of oxygen

Oxygen - 21% - produced by plants, used in breathing, very active in rusting and burning reactions

Argon - 0.93% - inert gas, made from volcanic eruptions

Gases in Our Atmosphere, cont… Carbon Dioxide - 0.03% - used in

photosynthesis, created in breathing, greenhouse gas

Water Vapor - varies between 0 - 5 % - clouds, precipitation, greenhouse gas

Methane - trace amounts - greenhouse gas, produced in decay

One more…• Ozone - trace amounts, absorbs

ultraviolet light, mostly found in the ozone layer

The Greenhouse Effect

Group 1

Turn to page 456 and read about the greenhouse effect.

1. Explain what the

greenhouse effect is.

2. Explain whether it is a good or bad thing.

Group 2

Read the “Greenhouse Effect” article.

1. List some gases that are considered “greenhouse” gases.

2. What would the Earth be like without the Greenhouse Effect?

3. What is the “enhanced greenhouse effect?”

Warm UpName the layer of the atmosphere…

1. That we live in.

2. Which contains the ozone layer.

3. Which is the least dense.

4. Which has the highest pressure.

5. Which is the coldest.

Warm Up1. What is the most abundant gas in the

atmosphere?

2. As altitude increases, what happens to air pressure? Why?

3. Name two greenhouse gases.

Get Ready….1. Copy your homework.

2. Take out a piece of looseleaf paper and a pencil.

3. Clear everything else off of your desk.

4. Put your 6th grade heading on the paper.

5. Title the paper “Practice Quiz."

Practice Quiz1. As altitude increases, ____________ decreases.2. The Earth’s atmosphere is held around the Earth by

____________.3. Which gas protects us from harmful ultraviolet

radiation?4. In which layer does weather occur?5. Which layer has the coldest temperatures?6. Which layer is the least dense?

Practice Quiz, cont…7. If there is a fire on a lab station, you should use the

________ _________.

8. If you have a chemical splash in your eyes, you should rinse for ____ minutes.

9. Name the greenhouse gas that forms clouds.

10. Name the most plentiful gas in the atmosphere.