Chp 6 Study Guide
BOA pg 34-35
1. Know vocab: Weather, Atmosphere, System
Weather: Condition of the Earth’s atmosphere at a specific, certain time and place
Atmosphere: The envelope of gases surrounding the Earth
System: Group of interworking parts- change in one affects change in the other parts
2. What drives events and motions in the atmosphere? How?
The SUN drives events and motions in the atmosphere. It transfers energy by
electromagnetic radiation which is then absorbed by gases in the atmosphere as well
as land and water. Through conduction, convection, and radiation that energy is
transferred through the atmosphere.
3. What are the percentages of nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and argon in the
atmosphere?
Nitrogen: 76%
Oxygen: 21%
Carbon Dioxide: Less than 1%
Argon: about 1%
4. What are the other two components of the atmosphere?
Water Vapor (measure of how much water vapor is in the air is called humidity)
Solid particulates (know at least 2-3 examples: Smoke, Dust, Chemicals, Salts)
5. What is required for things to burn? How does a candle burning change
depending on the size of the jar?
OXYGEN is required for things to burn! That’s why in our lab the candle burned out
faster when you put the smaller jar over it- it ran out of oxygen faster and then went
out. The larger the jar the more oxygen is going to be trapped in the jar and then the
longer the candle will burn. That’s also why you can just put the lid on a jar candle and
you will know that the candle will go out on its own- it runs out of oxygen.
BOA pg 37
1. What is the equation for density? What is density?
Density = Mass/Volume
Density is a measure of how much matter is present in a specific volume. If the matter
changes to take up more room (like when gas particles speed up because they have
more energy) then they spread out. The same amount of matter is now taking up
MORE space so it DECREASES in density because there’s less mass in the same
amount of volume. Or the same mass now takes up more space. However you want to
look at it is fine.
2. What is air pressure? How do you measure air pressure?
Air pressure is the result of a column of air pushing down on an area. The more air
there is above you the stronger the pressure will push down on you. Just like in the
ocean- the deeper in the ocean you are the more pressure you experience because
there is more water pushing down on you. The higher up in the air you go the less
pressure there is. The higher up on a mountain you go the less air there is above you
so the less pressure is pushing down on you.
3. What are the two different types of barometers?
Mercury barometer: Dish of mercury with an inverted tube setting in it. The stronger air
pressure pushes down on the dish of mercury the higher the mercury climbs in the
tube. Check the book for a good visual if you are still confused.
Aneroid barometer: Air-tight metal chamber that has metal inside of it. The metal
adjusts and bends and changes depending on the air pressure around it which adjusts
the dial on the barometer. See the book for a good visual.
4. How does air pressure change as you move up a mountain?
The higher up the mountain you go the less air pressure pushes on you because there
is less air above you. Density also decreases with altitude. **Remember: The
percentage of gas doesn’t change- oxygen will still be 21% of air on the top of the
mountain, however because there is LESS air then 21% oxygen is LESS oxygen, even
though the ratio or the percentage is still the same.
BOA pg 38-39
1. Know the layers of the atmosphere in order!
Earth’s crust  Troposphere  Stratosphere  Mesosphere  (Thermosphere)
Ionosphere  (Thermosphere) Exosphere SPACE
2. What are the details of the troposphere?
The troposphere is where all weather takes place and where we live. It extends up to
12-16km in the atmosphere. Temperature decreases as you travel up into the
troposphere.
3. What are the details of the stratosphere?
The stratosphere is the second layer of the atmosphere. It contains the ozone layer.
The ozone layer absorbs UV light, and water vapor and carbon dioxide in the air
absorbs infrared radiation.
4. What is ozone? What does it do?
Ozone is a molecule made up of three oxygen atoms. It absorbs ultra-violet light and
prevents some of it from reaching the Earth’s surface.
5. What are the details of the mesosphere?
The mesosphere is the middle layer of the atmosphere. Meso means middle. It
protects us from meteoroids.
6. What are the details of the thermosphere?
The thermosphere is divided up into two sub-layers. The ionosphere is directly above
the mesosphere and is the inside layer of the thermosphere. The exosphere has no
distinct boundary and eventually just fades into space. The molecules in the
thermosphere have an average temperature of 1800 degrees Celsius, however
because the molecules are so far apart they would never collide with you to transfer
that energy to you. So it feels really cold even though the molecules themselves are
moving extremely quickly.
7. Why is the sky blue?
Gases and particles in the air scatter light into many different wavelengths. All of the
“stuff” in the atmosphere scatter all the wavelengths of light and allow the blue
wavelengths to reach our eyes causing the sky to look blue during the day time. At
night and during the morning because the sun has to travel through more atmosphere
at the horizon to reach our eyes the gases and particles scatter the light in different
ways causing all of the colors of the sunrises and sunsets that we are used to!
BOA pg 42-43
1. What are electromagnetic waves? What is radiation?
Electromagnetic waves are a form of energy that can move through a vacuum.
Remember that a vacuum has NO matter what so ever- if electromagnetic waves
couldn’t travel through space then the sun’s energy would never reach us and we
wouldn’t be here. Good thing! Radiation is the direct transfer of energy by
electromagnetic waves.
2. What are the three different types of electromagnetic radiation that we talked
about in class? Which ones are the longest? Which ones are the shortest? How
do the different colors that we can see change in wavelength?
Ultra-violet waves are the shortest wavelengths. Remember that a wavelength is the
distance from a peak to a peak of the wave that is carrying the energy or a valley to a
valley. Check your notes for details on wavelengths. Many insects can see UV light,
and it is this type of light that gives you a sun burn. The ozone layer in the stratosphere
absorbs a lot of UV light so you do not get as burned as you could!
Visible light separates out into the colors of the rainbow- ROY G BIV: Red, orange,
yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. These are the only types of electromagnetic
waves that we can see with just our eyes. Indigo and violet waves are the shortest of
this type of wave, and the red color waves are the longest.
Infrared radiation is the longest type of wavelength. This is frequently felt as heat,
though we can’t see this type of electromagnetic radiation either. Some animals (for
example: many nocturnal animals) can see infrared radiation to help them catch their
prey at nighttime.
3. What is a wavelength?
See the above answer.
4. What is a vacuum?
See above answer (#1)
5. How do clouds effect the temperature below them and why?
Clouds reflect a lot of sunlight, so by not allowing the sun’s energy to reach the Earth’s
surface clouds will help to lower the temperature below them.
6. Why do skiers frequently get sunburned even when the sun’s rays are not as
intense?
Snow reflects 75%-95% of the sun’s energy. Not only do skiers get the sun’s rays the
first time it is on it’s way down, but when it reaches the Earth’s surface it gets reflected
right back into the skier’s face. You’ve got to wear sunscreen even in the winter- safety
first!
BOA pg 44-45
1. What is the greenhouse effect?
Greenhouse effect: The process by which the gases in the atmosphere absorb the
sun’s energy and trap heat within the atmosphere.
2. Why is the greenhouse effect important?
Without it we would be popsicles!!! If the sun’s energy just reached the Earth’s surface
then we would be really hot during the day because the atmosphere wasn’t absorbing
some of it for us, and then when night time hit we would be freezing because none of
that heat would have stayed close to the Earth’s surface. It is SUPER important!.
3. What are humans doing to increase greenhouse gases?
Greenhouse gases really started to increase around the start of the Industrial
Revolution. The more machines that we create that release carbon dioxide, methane,
and water vapor into the atmosphere the more greenhouse gases that are trapping
heat inside the atmosphere. Burning fossil fuels produces carbon dioxide.
4. How do greenhouse gases work? What happens when you add more
greenhouse gases into the atmosphere?
Greenhouse gases absorb some of the sun’s energy. The energy increases the motion
of the molecules of the gases. An increase in motion leads to an increase in
temperature. When you add more greenhouse gases it is like adding another blanket
to your bed at night. It traps more heat inside the atmosphere and doesn’t let as much
of it escape. The greenhouse effect is really important, however too much of a good
thing can start causing problems for ecosystems and businesses!
5. How much of sun’s rays that reaches the surface is absorbed?
50%
BOA pg 46-47
1. What is temperature? What is thermal energy?
Temperature is a measure of the AVERAGE energy of all the molecules that you are
measuring. If we measure room temperature at about 72 degrees Fahrenheit, then that
means that some of the molecules are moving at 76 degrees of energy while others
are moving at 68 degrees of energy. The average is what you feel in the room.
Thermal energy is the TOTAL amount of thermal energy that is stored in an object or
material.
2. Explain the following between a lake and a cup of hot tea:
a. Which has a higher temperature?
The hot tea obviously has a higher temperature. It’s hot! Lakes are usually pretty cold,
so the tea is has a much higher average energy of motion.
b. Which has a higher thermal energy?
The LAKE has a higher thermal energy because there are so many more molecules.
Even though the average amount of energy is much lower, when you add so many
more units of something smaller then it can add up to be more of the total. Football
example: 2 touchdowns will equal 14 points. If you are able to kick and successfully
make 6 field goals, you can end up with 18 points. Even though the amount of points
was lower (lake- lower average energy) if you have enough of those you can end up
winning the game!
c. What are the two accepted scientific temperature scales?
Celsius and Kelvin
3. What is radiation and how can it be seen in the atmosphere?
Radiation is the direct transfer of energy by electromagnetic waves. Radiation is how
the sun’s energy reaches the surface of the Earth. Half of that energy that reaches the
Earth’s surface is going to be absorbed.
4. What is convection? How can it be seen in the atmosphere?
Convection is the transfer of electromagnetic waves through a fluid. A FLUID is going
to be any liquid or gas because the molecules are more free to move and flow past
each other than in a solid.
Convection can be seen in the atmosphere because after the first few meters of the
Earth are heated by conduction, then the air starts to warm up. When things warm up it
means they have more energy. When they have more energy then they need more
space to party. When they need more space to party then we have a decrease in
density. When we have a decrease in density of a fluid then it is going to float on top of
the more dense part of that same fluid. When air heats up then warm air rises. The
reason it rises is actually because it is floating on the cold air that is more dense than it
is. When the warm air rises into the atmosphere it starts to cool down as it transfers its
heat to other molecules on its way up. At is transfers its heat away it loses that energy
and thus starts to cool down. When it cools down enough then it starts to sink back
down to the Earth. It is now becoming more dense and becoming the cool air that the
warmer air is floating on top of. When it reaches the surface it starts to warm up again.
Convection currents are the circular motion and movement of fluids that are
transferring energy to the surrounding particles.
5. What is conduction? How can it be seen in the atmosphere?
Conduction is the transfer of energy by electromagnetic waves through DIRECT
contact. Whenever you sit down and your seat feels cool it is because you are directly
transferring heat to the seat.
In the atmosphere, the molecules that are touching the earth are being heated by
conduction. They then start to rise and start a convection current.
BOA pg 48-49
1. What causes winds to move?
The unequal heating of the Earth’s atmosphere leads to changes in temperature which
leads to changes in density which leads to changes in pressure which leads to winds.
Differences in AIR PRESSURE causes winds.
2. How does the unequal heating of the atmosphere contribute to winds?
See above.
3. What are the two ways that winds can be measured?
Winds can be measure by direction by a wind vane or a weather vane, and by speed
using an anemometer.
4. What instrument measures winds and what does it look like?
An anemometer measure wind speed and has 3-4 cups mounted around an axis. The
cups spin around in the wind and measure how quickly it is moving.
5. What is a wind chill? What causes it? How does it work?
Wind chill is the excessive cooling caused by the wind. Wind or movement of air
across the body removes heat. On a hot day that is why a fan feels so good. The wind
chill is a measure of how cool the air FEELS based on how quickly the wind is moving.
In the winter it can drop the temperature significantly because it will take so much of
your body heat away.
6. What are local winds?
Local winds blow only short distances. The unequal heating of the Earth in a small
area cases local winds. A sea breeze occurs during the day time because the land
heats up much more quickly than the water does. Along the coast line the land heats
up more quickly and heats the air directly above it. Increase in energy leads to an
increase in temperature which leads to a DECREASE in density which then leads to a
DECREASE in air pressure. Air above the ocean is more dense and has a higher
pressure and it moves to fill the air that is rising above the land. Sea breezes occur
when air moves from the sea over the land.
Land breezes occur at nighttime. Land heats up more quickly than water but it also
cools off more quickly than water. At night the land will cool off more quickly and then
water will then be warming the air directly above it. An increase in energy leads to an
increase in temperature which leads to a decrease in density which causes a decrease
in air pressure. The higher pressure air over the land moves out over the sea causing a
land breeze.
7. What are global winds?
Global winds blow steadily from specific directions over long distances. These are
caused by the unequal heating of the Earth’s surface over a very large area.
Examples are the prevailing westerlies and the trade winds that we talked about on our
globe on our notes.
8. What are global convection currents?
The same thing that we talked about in the atmosphere with convection currents
occurs on a global scale. The doldrums do not have any wind because the air is rising.
The horse latitudes is where the cooler air is sinking back down. This process occurs
all over the Earth and produces the global winds.
9. How does the Coriolis effect affect winds?
SAME way that it affected ocean currents- it causes a curve in the direction of the
winds because as the winds are blowing directly north or directly south the Earth is
moving under the wind causing it to follow a curved shape. Remember the Coriolis lab
that we did with the balloon!
10.
What are the prevailing westerlies?
The prevailing westerlies move from the horse latitudes and move north. These are the
winds that we experience the most in the United States. They are called the prevailing
westerlies because they COME FROM THE WEST. So they move from west to east.
11.
What are the doldrums?
The doldrums are a calm area of warm rising air located directly above the equator. If
you are a sailor you want to avoid these areas because they can be very dangerous.
There’s almost no wind because all the air is rising into the atmosphere.
12.
What are the trade winds?
The trade winds move from the horse latitudes south. They move to the west (opposite
of the prevailing westerlies)