Name
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Atmosphere Test #1
7.E.1.1 Compare the composition, properties and structure of Earth’s atmosphere to include mixtures of gases and
differences in temperature and pressure within layers.
7.E.1.2 Explain how the cycling of water in and out of the atmosphere and atmospheric conditions relate to the
weather patterns on Earth.
Multiple Choice. Please choose the BEST answer. (3 points each)
1) A student has a balloon filled with air at her home, which is at sea level. Where could she go to make the
balloon as LARGE as possible without adding more air?
a. 1 mile above sea level, at a place where the temperature is the same as it was at her home.
b. 1 mile below sea level, at a place where the temperature is the same as it was at her home.
c. To a place which is colder than her home, but still at sea level.
d. None of the above: Elevation above or below sea level and temperature do not affect the balloon’s size.
2) Which gas makes up most of the Earth’s atmosphere?
a. Oxygen
b. Nitrogen
c. Carbon Dioxide
d. Methane
3) In which layer of the atmosphere can you find weather?
a. Exosphere
b. Mesosphere
c. Stratosphere
d. Troposphere
4) The air directly above the surface of the Earth is heated by:
a. Radiation
b. The Earth’s Core
c. Conduction
d. Convection
5) Which is the coldest layer of the Earth’s atmosphere?
a. Mesosphere
b. Exosphere
c. Thermosphere
d. Stratosphere
6) Objects that are more dense will
a. Rise
b. Fall
c. Stay in the same place
d. Move far away from one another
7) What is the Water Cycle?
a. The process that water follows to reach the sea
b. The series of steps water takes to become a cloud and return to the ground
c. A tool scientists use to measure rainfall
d. The path ocean currents follow
8) Which of the following is NOT a step in the Water Cycle?
a. Precipitation
b. Evaporation
c. Condensation
d. Conservation
9) Warm air molecules move
a. Closer together
b. Further apart
c. Towards the surface of the Earth
d. They don’t move
10) The layers of the atmosphere are identified through
a. Their density
b. What happens there
c. The temperature change
d. The Earth’s atmosphere has no layers, silly!
Fill in the Blank. Place the term that completes the sentence correctly in the blank. (3 points each)
11) As altitude increases, air pressure ____decreases________.
12) The layer of gases around a large body in space, such as a planet or star, is called its ___atmosphere_____.
13) The __ozone______ layer can be found in the stratosphere.
14) Earth’s process of water phase change and energy transfer which includes evaporation and transpiration,
condensation, precipitation, collection and runoff, is called __water cycle______.
Water Cycle
Atmosphere
Decrease
Nitrogen Cycle
Altitude
Increase
Ozone
Oxygen
Match the term on the left to the definition on the right. Write the correct letter on the line next to the number.
(3 points each)
15) _B__The ratio of mass to volume in any type of
matter
20) _C___ Heat transfer through a fluid such as air
or water
16) _F___ The lowest layer of the Earth’s atmosphere
in which weather and life occur
17) _D___ The distance above sea level
18) _A___ Heat energy that travels across distances as
waves
19) _E___ Heat transfer that occurs from direct
contact
Label the following diagrams.
21)
1. ___Evaporation______________
2. ___Condensation____________
3. ___Precipitation_____________
a. Radiation
b. Density
c. Convection
d. Altitude
e. Conduction
f.
Troposphere
4. ____Runoff___________________
5. ___Groundwater_____________
6. ___Surface Water____________
22)
Layer Name
1. Troposphere
2. Stratosphere
3. Mesosphere
4. Thermosphere
5. Exosphere
Something that happens in this layer
Weather and Life; lowest layer of the atmosphere.
Ozone Layer; Supersonic Jets; Weather Balloons
Middle Layer; Coldest; Meteors “burn” up here
Very hot layer; Satellites, Space shuttles, Northern
Lights
Hottest Layer; Edge of Space; International Space
Station
Constructed Response. Answer in COMPLETE sentences for full credit. Answer all parts of the question. (10
points each)
23) Why does the temperature in the troposphere drop as you move up in altitude?
As the sun’s radiation enters the Earth’s atmosphere, it warms the surface of our planet. The ground holds
the heat and releases it though CONDUCTION to the air molecules right above the surface. The molecules
move apart as they are warmed, causing them to become less dense. The warm air begins to rise, but it
cools quickly as you move away from the surface of the Earth. The air at the top of the troposphere is
cooler than the air at the bottom because it is further away from the surface of the Earth, which is
the source of heat in this layer.
24) Use the diagram to the right to describe the difference in pressure between the top and the bottom of the
mountain. Defend your claim by using the terms density, altitude and molecule. You
need AT LEAST THREE well written, complete sentences to get full credit for this
answer.
The man at the bottom of the mountain is experiencing more air pressure than the
man at the top of the mountain. As you move away from the surface of the Earth,
the air becomes less dense and has less air pressure. Higher altitudes have less density because the
molecules of air are further apart. Air molecules are closer together at the bottom of the mountain. In fact,
the higher you go up in the atmosphere, the less oxygen molecules, so it is harder to breathe.