Names:______________________________________Per.:___
Layers of the Atmosphere: On A Lift _______________________________________________________
_________________________________________
Directions: RESEARCH AND ANSWER QUESTIONS #1-20 USING THE WEB LINKS AND PAGES 256-271;
RECORD THE NAME OF ALL TEAM MEMBERS AND THEIR WORK ON POSTER PAPER.
Introduction: NASAL (The National Agency of Space Aeronautics and Lift) is planning to build an elevator
from Earth’s surface to Earth orbit. You are a member of a team of scientists. Your team has been given
an assignment to provide a description of the structure of our atmosphere. Your job will be to understand
the features of Earth’s atmosphere and to provide a clear description to your assigned superior- located at
JJPMSSL (The John J. Pershing Middle School Science Laboratories, Rooms 703 and 705).
Task: Your job is to collect data about the layers of the atmosphere. Your team of scientists will work together to
collect and analyze this information and report it back to your superior. This poster and worksheet have been
provided; use them to research and report your findings.
EXPECT TO
EXPECT TO PRESENT YOUR FINDINGS ON THIS DATE ________
Process: Read this worksheet to guide you! Read all of the information on the web and in the book!
1. Go to the “THE GUIDE” on the next page, look for THE GUIDE!
2. Research the questions on THE GUIDE by clicking on the titles found on the webpage; they are links.
Example- Cozy Blanket Around Earth is the link for questions # 1-6
3. List answers by writing down their number and the data you discover on your poster.
4. Choose a spokesperson for your team and help her or him prepare a presentation- for the following:
(a) At least how long should the elevator cable be, from Earth to space?
(b) What temperatures will the elevator experience?
(Hint- Give a temperature range)
(c) Tell us about one important characteristic an elevator rider should be aware of, as they travel through
each of the four main layers.
5. Have the spokesperson lead the presentation on the findings to your superior. ANY team member may be
called on to help with the presentation.
Resources:
Go to http://www.clickandteachit.com/click.cfm?subpage=1018342
Conclusion: Record it on the back of your poster
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Did everyone on the team contribute to the presentation? If not, list their name on the poster; and write
“recommended for reassignment.”
Did working together as a group make the research easier to accomplish?
What do you know now that you did not know before this assignment?
Evaluation: (DO NOT WRITE)
Poster _____ out of 10 points and Presentation _____ out of 5 points
N. A. S. A. L.
THE GUIDE!  GO TO THE BLUE-COLORED LINKS AT
http://www.clickandteachit.com/click.cfm?subpage=1018342
Cozy Blanket Around Earth  NOTE these underlined words are blue-colored on the webpage.
1. Which four gases are most common in Earth's atmosphere? Give the percentages.
2. What are the four main layers of the atmosphere? Draw them in order on your poster.
3. Which layer is closest to space?
4. Which layer is the hottest, up to 1,800 oC? Refer to your science book.
5. Which layer is the coldest, where temperatures approach -90oC? Refer to your science book.
6. Why do you think the atmosphere is often called a "Cozy Blanket Around Earth?"
Exosphere
7. What is the exosphere?
8. Where is the exosphere?
Heat Transfer
9. Click on the sun, "Radiation." Click on "Add Sunlight." List three examples of radiation.
10. Click on "Conduction." Click on "Light Burner." List four good conductors.
11. Click on "Convection." Click on "Light Stove." List four examples of convection.
Electromagnetic Radiation (if flash player is not working)
12. How do people use radiation? Name one practical use for each of the following type of waves:
radio waves, microwaves, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, x-rays, and gamma rays.
Greenhouse Gases
13. Name the human activities that increase greenhouse gases.
14. What are the four main greenhouse gases?
Other Features (Look in your science book): Be sure to list the answers by number.
15. Draw and label a line, your elevator, from the earth to outer space. Write both kilometers
and miles
(labeled as km on the right side of the line and mi. on the left).
16. At 15 km draw a weather balloon- Why do weather balloons often burst here?
17. Draw a meteoroid being broken apart in the atmosphere – What are meteoroids?
18. Draw ozone. Why is the ozone layer important to living things?
19. Draw an aurora. What happens to radio waves at this layer of the atmosphere?
20. Draw a group of clouds that are at least 5 km tall- Clouds may form in the troposphere,
stratosphere, or mesosphere. In which layer of the Earth does weather occur?
Conclusion: Record it on the back of your poster
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
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Did working together as a group make the research easier to accomplish?
What do you know now that you did not know before this assignment?
You are not required to write these, but during your presentation, you may be asked-
(a) At least how long should the elevator cable be, from Earth to space?
(b) What temperatures will the elevator experience? (Hint- Give a temperature range)
(c) Tell us about one important characteristic an elevator rider should be aware of, as they travel
through each of the four main layers.
Modified from http://www.clickandteachit.com/click.cfm?subpage=1018342 which is
Modified from original webquest: http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dfd23739_16fkqtvmc9
Webquest http://teachers.spart5.k12.sc.us/jamescs/web%20quest/web%20guest.htm#Process
Resources
1. http://regentsprep.org/Regents/earthsci/units/introduction/atmosphere.cfm
2. http://scs.summit.k12.oh.us/woodridge/intermediateschool/gr5/mrsmclaughlinsproject/layers.htm
3. http://www.windows.ucar.edu/earth/images/profile.jpg
4. http://www.shodor.org/metweb/session1/density_and_pressure.html
5. http://www.shodor.org/metweb/session1/layers.html