Introduction
This is the opening activity to our new section,
The Layers of Earth's Atmosphere!
Please read the following background information on the 5 major layers of Earth's Atmosphere.
The Earth's atmosphere is divided up into 5 major layers:
- Exosphere - The last layer and the thinnest. It goes all the way to 10,000 km above the Earth's surface.
- Thermosphere - The thermosphere is next and the air is very thin here. Temperatures can get extremely hot in the thermosphere.
- Mesosphere - The mesosphere covers the next 50 miles beyond the stratosphere. This is where most meteors burn up upon entry. The coldest place on Earth is at the top of the mesosphere.
- Stratosphere - The stratosphere extends for the next 32 miles after the troposphere. Unlike the troposphere the stratosphere gets its heat by the Ozone Layer absorbing radiation from the sun. As a result, it gets warmer the further away you get from the Earth. Weather balloons go as high as the stratosphere.
- Troposphere - The troposphere is the layer next to the ground or surface of the Earth. It covers around 30,000-50,000 feet high. This is where we live and even where planes fly. Around 80% of the mass of the atmosphere is in the troposphere. The troposphere is heated by the surface of the Earth.
Task
Task 1:
Watch the following video link on the Layers of the Atmosphere. There will be a open note quiz in class next week over the information provided on the video, so take good notes!
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AV5T-40EG0U width:640 height:480 align:center]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AV5T-40EG0U
Task 2:
Complete the Virtual Lab found in the Process Tab.This will be a good starting point activity to help familiarize yourself with the different Layers of Earth's Atmosphere.
Process
Virtual Lab Assignment
Read the information and follow the instructions found in the far left column of the Virtual Lab (The link is at the bottom of this page).
You are to complete and print the following items from the Virtual Lab and turn them in at the beginning of class next week:
- Graph of Atmospheric Data that includes Density, Pressure, and Temperature
- The 5 Journal Questions/Your Answers
This assignment is worth 25 points.
Virtual Lab: http://www.glencoe.com/sites/common_assets/science/virtual_labs/ES14/ES14.html
Evaluation
| Points | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Graph |
All information on the graph/table is accurate |
There are 1-2 errors in the graph/table |
There are up to 3-4 errors in the graph/table |
There are 5-6 erros in the graph/table |
There are 7-9 errors in the graph/table |
There are 10+ erros in the graph/table |
| Graph |
All information on the graph/table is fully complete |
There are 1-2 empty blanks in the graph/table |
There are up to 3-4 blanks in the graph/table |
There are 5-6 blanks in the graph/table |
There are 7-9 blanks in the graph/table |
There are 10+ blanks on the graph/table |
| Journal |
All 5 Journal Questions are answered fully |
4 Questions are answered fully |
3 Questions are answered fully | 2 Questions are answered fully | 1 Question is answered fully | 0 Questions are answered fully |
| Journal |
All responses are correct, relevent, and show the student has mastered the content |
1 Question is answered with incorrect, invalid information |
2 Questions are answered with incorrect, invalid information | 3 Questions are answered with incorrect, invalid information | 4 Questions are answered with incorrect, invalid information | All 5 Questions are answered with incorrect, invalid information |
| Timeliness |
Assignment is turned in on time |
Assignment is 1 day late |
Assignment is 2 days late | Assignment is 3 days late | Assignment is 4 days late | Assignment is 5+ days late |
Conclusion
I hope you are excited to learn about the Layers of Earth's Atmosphere!
Please complete all work and be prepared for next week.
-Mr. Tompson