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Questions and Answers
Which of the following gases is found in the highest proportion in the Earth's atmosphere?
Which of the following gases is found in the highest proportion in the Earth's atmosphere?
What percentage of the atmosphere is composed of oxygen?
What percentage of the atmosphere is composed of oxygen?
At what rate does the temperature decrease with increasing height?
At what rate does the temperature decrease with increasing height?
Which layer of the atmosphere lies closest to the Earth's surface?
Which layer of the atmosphere lies closest to the Earth's surface?
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Which factor causes the temperature in the lower atmosphere to be greater than in the upper atmosphere?
Which factor causes the temperature in the lower atmosphere to be greater than in the upper atmosphere?
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Which of the following statements about water vapour in the atmosphere is true?
Which of the following statements about water vapour in the atmosphere is true?
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Which gas makes up 0.93% of the Earth's atmosphere?
Which gas makes up 0.93% of the Earth's atmosphere?
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What is one of the main causes for the decrease in temperature with increasing height?
What is one of the main causes for the decrease in temperature with increasing height?
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Which of the following percentages correctly represents the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere?
Which of the following percentages correctly represents the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere?
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The atmosphere is densest at sea level mainly due to which factor?
The atmosphere is densest at sea level mainly due to which factor?
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Study Notes
Atmosphere - Introduction
- The atmosphere is the blanket of air surrounding the Earth, densest at sea level and thinning rapidly upwards.
- It is composed of 78.03% nitrogen, 20.95% oxygen, 0.94% argon, and traces of carbon dioxide, hydrogen, and other gases.
- The lower part of the atmosphere is denser due to gravity, resulting in decreasing density with increasing height.
Factors Affecting Air Pressure
- Atmospheric pressure depends on altitude, temperature, and water vapour.
- Air pressure decreases with increasing altitude.
- Temperature decreases with increasing height above sea level at a rate of 0.6°C per 10 meters.
- The main causes of temperature decrease with increasing height are:
- The lower atmosphere is denser and absorbs a larger amount of heat.
- The upper atmosphere is thinner and has a low capacity to hold heat.
- The atmosphere is mainly heated by conduction and radiation from the Earth's surface.
- A volume of humid air with water vapour is lighter than a volume of dry air.
Composition of the Atmosphere
- The atmosphere is a gaseous realm composed of a uniform mixture of permanent gases.
- The composition of the atmosphere is:
- Nitrogen: 78.03%
- Oxygen: 20.95%
- Argon: 0.93%
- Carbon Dioxide: 0.03%
- Hydrogen: 0.01%
- Others: 0.05%
- The atmosphere also contains water vapour, dust particles, smoke, and pollens.
Structure of the Atmosphere
- The atmosphere can be divided into five layers based on its structure:
- Troposphere: The lowest layer, closest to the surface, suitable for human life, with a decrease in temperature with increasing altitude at a rate of about 6.4°C per km.
- The other layers are:
- Stratosphere
- Mesosphere
- Thermosphere
- Exosphere
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Description
This quiz covers the basics of the Earth's atmosphere, including its composition, density, and air pressure. Learn about the factors that affect air pressure and more!
