Podcast
Questions and Answers
The sky appears ______ during the day due to scattering.
The sky appears ______ during the day due to scattering.
blue
The atmosphere is divided into five layers, with the ______ being the lowest layer.
The atmosphere is divided into five layers, with the ______ being the lowest layer.
Troposphere
The ______ is the scattering of light by small particles in the atmosphere.
The ______ is the scattering of light by small particles in the atmosphere.
Rayleigh scattering
During sunrise and sunset, the sky appears ______ due to the scattering of longer wavelengths of light.
During sunrise and sunset, the sky appears ______ due to the scattering of longer wavelengths of light.
Signup and view all the answers
Clouds are formed when water vapor condenses into visible ______ droplets.
Clouds are formed when water vapor condenses into visible ______ droplets.
Signup and view all the answers
The spectacular display of colored light in the polar regions is known as the ______.
The spectacular display of colored light in the polar regions is known as the ______.
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Composition
- The sky is composed of:
- Nitrogen (78%)
- Oxygen (21%)
- Argon (0.9%)
- Carbon dioxide (0.03%)
- Water vapor (varies)
- Other gases (trace amounts)
Layers
- The atmosphere is divided into five layers:
- Troposphere: lowest layer, extends up to 12 km (7.5 mi)
- Stratosphere: extends up to 50 km (31 mi)
- Mesosphere: extends up to 80 km (50 mi)
- Thermosphere: extends up to 600 km (373 mi)
- Exosphere: outermost layer, extends into space
Colors
- The sky appears blue during the day due to:
- Scattering: shorter wavelengths of light (blue, violet) scatter more than longer wavelengths (red, orange)
- Rayleigh scattering: scattering of light by small particles in the atmosphere
- During sunrise and sunset, the sky appears:
- Red: longer wavelengths of light dominate due to scattering
- Orange: mixture of red and yellow wavelengths
Phenomena
- Clouds: formed when water vapor condenses into visible liquid droplets
- Sunlight: direct sunlight, diffuse sunlight: indirect sunlight scattered by the atmosphere
- Aurora: spectacular display of colored light in the polar regions, caused by charged particles from the sun
- Meteor showers: trails of light produced by small particles entering the atmosphere at high speed
Atmosphere Composition
- Nitrogen makes up 78% of the atmosphere
- Oxygen accounts for 21% of the atmosphere
- Argon and carbon dioxide are present in smaller amounts, 0.9% and 0.03% respectively
- Water vapor and other gases are also present in varying amounts
Atmospheric Layers
- The atmosphere is divided into five distinct layers
- Troposphere: the lowest layer, extending up to 12 km (7.5 mi) above the Earth's surface
- Stratosphere: the second layer, extending up to 50 km (31 mi) above the Earth's surface
- Mesosphere: the third layer, extending up to 80 km (50 mi) above the Earth's surface
- Thermosphere: the fourth layer, extending up to 600 km (373 mi) above the Earth's surface
- Exosphere: the outermost layer, extending into space
Sky Colors
- The sky appears blue during the day due to scattering of shorter wavelengths of light
- Rayleigh scattering is the scattering of light by small particles in the atmosphere
- During sunrise and sunset, the sky appears red due to the dominance of longer wavelengths of light
- The mixture of red and yellow wavelengths produces an orange hue during sunrise and sunset
Atmospheric Phenomena
- Clouds are formed when water vapor condenses into visible liquid droplets
- Sunlight can be direct or indirect, with indirect sunlight being scattered by the atmosphere
- Aurorae are spectacular displays of colored light in the polar regions, caused by charged particles from the sun
- Meteor showers are trails of light produced by small particles entering the atmosphere at high speed
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Description
Understand the composition of the sky and the five layers of the atmosphere, including their characteristics and extensions.
