Unit 5: Atmosphere and Biogeochemical Cycles

Sherice wants to prove the role of the atmosphere. In class, she learned that the atmosphere protects life on Earth from radiation from the sun and that the atmosphere also insulates the Earth by trapping in in heat to keep the Earth warm. She decided to create two models of Earth and design an experiment to prove this. One model represents Earth with an atmosphere and the other model represents Earth without an atmosphere. She places the models under a heat lamp and measures how temperature of each model changes over time.

Which of the following would be the independent (input) variable of Sherice’s experiment?

• Temperature over time.

• The presence of the atmosphere.

• The type of model used in the experiment.

• Radiation from the sun received on Earth.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ETS1-4

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

NGSS.MS-PS3-4

Sherice wants to prove the role of the atmosphere. In class, she learned that the atmosphere protects life on Earth from radiation from the sun and that the atmosphere also insulates the Earth by trapping in in heat to keep the Earth warm. She decided to create two models of Earth and design an experiment to prove this. One model represents Earth with an atmosphere and the other model represents Earth without an atmosphere. She places the models under a heat lamp and measures how temperature of each model changes over time.

Which of the following would be the dependent (output) variable of Sherice’s experiment?

• Temperature over time.

• The presence of the atmosphere.

• Radiation from the sun received on Earth.

• The type of model used in the experiment.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

NGSS.MS-PS3-4

NGSS.MS-PS3-5

Sherice wants to prove the role of the atmosphere. In class, she learned that the atmosphere protects life on Earth from radiation from the sun and that the atmosphere also insulates the Earth by trapping in in heat to keep the Earth warm. She decided to create two models of Earth and design an experiment to prove this. One model represents Earth with an atmosphere and the other model represents Earth without an atmosphere. She places the models under a heat lamp and measures how temperature of each model changes over time.

Which of the following should be a constant in Sherice’s experiment?

• Temperature over time.

• The presence of the atmosphere.

• Radiation from the sun received on Earth.

• All the above should be held constant in her experiment.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

NGSS.MS-PS3-4

Why would Sherice create a model to perform this experiment?

• The models were more fun than directly studying how heat is transferred from the Sun to the surface of Earth.

• The models were less interesting than directly studying how heat is transferred from the Sun to the surface of Earth.

• The models were more complicated than directly studying how heat is transferred from the Sun to the surface of Earth.

• The models made it easier to study how heat is transferred from the Sun to the surface of Earth with and without an atmosphere.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS3-3

NGSS.MS-PS3-4

Andy constructed 3 models of Hurricane proof houses. Each house was tested for how well it prevented flooding when exposed to heavy rain and minimized damage during high winds. He collected qualitative data on how each model performed. He made a hypothesis that House A would be the most Hurricane proof. Model A: Exposed to flooding - Small amount of water in model, Exposed to High winds - No damage to model Model B: Exposed to flooding - No water in model, Exposed to High winds - Roof blew off model Model C: Exposed to flooding - No water in model, Exposed to High winds - No damage to model Based on his data collected, how should Andy best communicate his data?

• His results support his hypothesis based on this data.

• His results fail to support his hypothesis based on this data.

• His results prove his hypothesis was correct based on this data.

• Andy cannot determine if his hypothesis was correct based on this data.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ETS1-1

NGSS.MS-ETS1-2

NGSS.MS-ETS1-3

Heat transfer drives a variety of processes in Earth’s systems. Which of the following is an example of energy transfer by radiation in Earth's systems?

• Heat rises through vents in the ocean floor.

• Warm air replaces cooler air in the atmosphere.

• Gases in the atmosphere are heated by the Sun.

• Hot gases are given off during volcanic eruptions.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-2

Earth is categorized into spheres that interact with each other, including the geosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere. Which of the following is an example of an interaction between Earth’s geosphere and atmosphere?

• Volcanic eruptions release ash and gas into the air.

• A river carries and deposits sediment downstream to form a delta.

• Plants absorb water needed for photosynthesis through their roots.

• Gases from the atmosphere trapping energy that warms water in the oceans.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-1

Earth's systems interact in multiple ways to affect Earth's surface materials and processes. A diagram is provided. The diagram shows a two-way interaction between the Biosphere and the Atmosphere. Which of the following most accurately describes a possible interaction as illustrated in the diagram above?

• Volcanos release carbon dioxide into the air.

• Water vapor in the air cools and forms clouds.

• Oxygen in the air is taken in by animals on the ground.

• Heavy rainfall causes a landslide on the side of a mountain.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-6

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

Solei thinks that cloud cover results in cooler temperatures in the summer. She reasons that during the summer a cloudy day is cooler than a clear, sunny day. Dez thinks that cloud cover results in warmer temperatures in the winter. He reasons that clear winter nights are colder than cloudy ones. Who is most correct, Solei or Dez?

• Solei is correct because clouds increase the amount of solar radiation reaching the surface during the summer, which results in higher temperatures.

• Dez is correct because less solar radiation is transmitted to the surface in winter and the clouds decrease the amount of heat retained by our atmosphere at night.

• Both Solei and Dez are incorrect because surface temperatures depend on the amount of solar radiation absorbed at the surface, and cloud cover has no effect on it.

• Both Solei and Dez are correct. During a summer day clouds in the atmosphere decrease the amount of solar radiation that reach Earth’s surface, which results in cooler surface temperatures. During a winter night, clouds insulate the surface and less solar radiation is radiated back to space, which results in warmer surface temperatures.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS3-4

NGSS.MS-PS3-5

Which of the following best describes the composition and structure of Earth’s atmosphere?

• Earth’s atmosphere is the only sphere that surrounds planet Earth and is composed of 1 giant layer of gas.

• Earth’s atmosphere is the only sphere that surrounds planet Earth and is composed of multiple layers of gas.

• Earth’s atmosphere surrounds Earth like a blanket and is composed of 1 layer mixed with solids, liquids, and gases.

• Earth’s atmosphere is only found above some places on Earth and is composed of layers of solids, liquids, and gases.