Name ___Answer Key_____________ Date __________________ Class Period ________
Energy in our Atmosphere Study Guide
I. Matching. Write the correct word for each definition. Use: conduction, convection, radiation,
convection currents
1) __Convection Currents__The process of warm air rising and cold air sinking in a repeated pattern.
2)
3)
4)
Convection
Conduction
Radiation
heat transferred though a liquid or a gas
heat transferred directly from one solid to the next through direct contact.
heat transferred through electromagnetic waves
Matching. Write the correct word for each definition. Use: The Earth’s energy budget, wind,
Greenhouse effect, The sun, greenhouse gases
5)
Greenhouse effect The concept that certain gases trap heat in our atmosphere.
6) __The sun This is responsible for powering the atmosphere, oceans, causing weather,
providing heat, light, energy, and causing life processes.
7) Wind
The unequal heating and cooling of land and water that causes local winds.
8) Earth’s Energy Budget_ The concept that energy in our atmosphere is balanced by being absorbed and
reflected.
9) Greenhouse gasses methane, water vapor, carbon dioxide
10. Complete the chart below:
Convection
How does it move?
By moving molecules in
a fluid (liquid or gas)
What are some examples?
Winds, heating in the
atmosphere, boiling
water, currents in the
ocean
Conduction
By direct contact
Hand warmers, holding
a cup of tea, group
hugs, laying on the
warm ground.
Radiation
Through empty space
on electromagnetic
waves
Sun through space,
sunlight on your face,
standing near a fire
11. Draw and label an illustration of warm air and cold air for each box. Beside each box tell 3 facts (think
about what it does, it’s energy, it’s density).
Cold
Warm
1. Sinks
1. Rises
2. Molecules move slowly
2. Molecules move quickly
3. More dense
3. Less dense
12. Label the following on the electromagnetic spectrum diagram: infrared waves, radio waves, gamma rays,
visible light, microwave, x-rays, ultraviolet light, MORE energy, LESS energy.
Radio Waves
Ultraviolet
Microwaves
Visible Light
Infrared
X-rays
Gamma rays
LESS Energy
MORE Energy
13. Which part of the electromagnetic spectrum has more energy? Why does it have more energy? (Think about
the wavelength and frequency)
The side with gamma rays, it has more energy because it has a shorter wavelength and higher frequency.
14. Which part of the electromagnetic spectrum has less energy? Why does it have less energy? (Think about
the wavelength and frequency)
The side with radio waves, it has more energy because it has a shorter wavelength and higher frequency.
True or False: If false, correct the sentence to make it true.
15.
F Warm air sinks. Cold air sinks or Warm air rises
16.
F Cold air rises. Cold air sinks or Warm air rises
17. T Heat is transferred through the atmosphere in convection currents.
18. F The sun does NOT cause the atmosphere to move, oceans to move, wind, and the water cycle.
19.
T Gases that trap heat cause the Greenhouse effect.
20.
F Radio waves, microwaves, and infrared waves Gamma Rays, UV, X-rays are dangerous to humans.
22. Explain the concept of the Earth’s Energy budget.
The way Earth absorbs, reflects and uses solar energy. It should be 50% absorbed and used and 50%
reflected to maintain an balanced energy budget.
23. What things reflect, absorb and scatter the Sun’s radiation
Ground, Oceans/water source, Clouds, Dust, Water vapor, Gases in the atmosphere
24. About what percentage of the Sun’s energy is reflected and absorbed in a balanced energy budget?
50%
25. Use the chart below to answer the questions: Ms.Frizzle’s science class performed an experiment testing
how different substances heat. Below are their observations:
Item
Starting Temperature (°C)
Piece of clear glass
Black piece of cloth
White piece of paper
Cup of sand
piece of red plastic
17
19
17.5
19
17.5
Final Temperature (°C) after 30
minutes
28
35
19.5
27.5
33
A) Which object heated the least? Which heated the most?
The white paper heated the least (19.5°C – 17.5°C = 2 °C).
The black cloth heated the most (35°C - 19°C = 16°C)
B) Which statement would be a correct conclusion based on the data? Circle your answer choice.
The lighter objects increased their temperature more.
OR
The darker objects increased their temperatures more
Convection Currents: Use the diagram to answer the questions below.
26. What do the arrows moving up represent?
Warm air rising up
27. What do the arrows moving down represent?
Cold air sinking down
28. Number the following steps in the order they occur in convection currents:
_7_ The cycle repeats itself.
3_The ground heats the air above it through conduction.
6 Cold air sinks.
2_The sun’s radiation warms the ground.
4 Warm air rises through convection.
5 Air cools off high in the atmosphere.
1 The sun’s radiation moves through the atmosphere.
29. Why would the land be warmer then the water during the day?
The land is warmer than water during the day because
land heat up faster than water.
30. Why would the water be warmer then the land at night?
The water is warmer than land at night because the
water holds it’s heat longer than land.
31. Why do climates nearer to the ocean tend to be warmer in the winter then areas away from the ocean?
Places near oceans stay warmer in the winter because the ocean stays warmer during the winter than just
land would, so the areas near it are warmer.
32. Label the diagram below with the correct order of layers of the atmosphere-mesosphere, thermosphere,
troposphere, stratosphere.
4) Thermosphere
3) Mesosphere
2) Stratosphere
1) Troposphere
Read the following list of facts about the layers of atmosphere. Put a “T” next to troposphere facts, “M”
next to mesosphere facts, “TH” next to thermosphere, and “S” next to stratosphere facts.
5) __T__ layer where weather occurs
6) _S__ location of ozone layer
7) __M_ meteors burn up here
8) _M__ coldest layer
9) __TH_ hottest layer
10) __T_ air is most dense here
11) _T__ we live here
12) __TH_ satellites orbit here