Chapter 1: The Atmosphere
1.3 Layers of the Atmosphere
7th Science
Name:
Hour:
Virtual Lab – Structure of the Earth’s Atmosphere (Chapter 1 Section 3 pg. 16-21)
1) Go to Google and type in Layers of the Atmosphere Virtual Lab; click on the very top search result.
 http://www.glencoe.com/sites/common_assets/science/virtual_labs/ES14/ES14.html
2) Read the introduction on the left to answer the following: (** will be information that you will be tested
on)
 **Name the lowest layer of the atmosphere 
**What absorbs the sun’s radiation and returns it to the air?

The jet stream is found in which layer?

Why do planes travel in the jet stream?

**Why does the temperature increase in the stratosphere as you go higher?

What is the temperature in the mesosphere?

What is the extreme temperature in the thermosphere?
Why would you not get burnt at those temperatures?
Procedure:
1) You will use the silver slider to set the altitude and then launch the balloon or rocket. After the
balloon/rocket has landed (parachuted), make sure you record the density, pressure, and temperature in
the chart below.
Altitude- km
10 km
25 km
55 km
60 km
75 km
100 km
150 km
200 km
400 km
Density (% at Sea Level)
Pressure (Pa)
Temp (°C)
Chapter 1: The Atmosphere
1.3 Layers of the Atmosphere
Name:
Hour:
2) Next, launch the balloon or rocket at the following altitudes. Once the balloon or rocket has landed, click
the show phenomenon button to answer:

10 km – What is at the top?

25 km – Made of three and protects us?

75 km – Type of clouds and made from….

100 km – What becomes visible?

150 km – The

200 km – What is caused by solar storms?
(two words)
sphere allows us to
Virtual Lab: Structure of Earth’s Atmosphere Follow-Up Questions (1-5): Use the information and data from the
virtual lab to answer the following questions.
1.
Which layer of the atmosphere do you live in? What kinds of meteorological phenomena can be found in
this layer?
2.
If a rocket were launched to a height of 210 kilometers above sea level, which layer of the atmosphere
would it rise to? What kinds of meteorological and astronomical phenomena might the rocket encounter
in that layer?
Chapter 1: The Atmosphere
1.3 Layers of the Atmosphere
Name:
Hour:
3.
What is the ozone layer? In which layer of the atmosphere is it found? What is the importance of the
ozone layer to life on Earth?
4.
Describe the pattern of air density changes within layers of the atmosphere. Describe the pattern of air
pressure changes within layers of the atmosphere. What is the relationship between air density and air
pressure?
5.
Describe the pattern of temperature changes within the layers of the atmosphere. Why do you think
temperature changes follow this unique pattern?