Unit 1 chapter 1 section 1

What makes up Earth’s atmosphere?

Earth’s Atmosphere

• Atmosphere: the layer of air that surrounds Earth.

• The atmosphere is made up of gas particles (mostly nitrogen and oxygen, and other gases
like carbon dioxide and water vapor).

• Air pressure: the particles of air pressing down on the surface.

• As you get higher in the atmosphere, the space between air particles increases.

• So the pressure is less as you go higher in the atmosphere.

Q/ what is the atmosphere?

Is the layer of air that surrounds Earth.

Atmosphere layers
1. Troposphere: the closest layer to the Earth. The weather happens in this
layer.
2. Stratosphere: contains most of the atmosphere’s ozone (a kind of oxygen).
 The ozone protects living things from the sun’s harmful rays.
3. Mesosphere: is the coldest layer of the atmosphere.
4. Thermosphere: is the hot outermost layer of air.

Q/ what are the four layers of the atmosphere?

1. Troposphere
2. Stratosphere
3. Mesosphere
4. Thermosphere
Atmosphere and the Sun
• Greenhouse effect: is the process by which the atmosphere traps heat much
like the glass of a greenhouse.

Q/ How does the atmosphere work like a greenhouse?

The atmosphere traps heat much like the glass of a greenhouse.

Air masses
• Air mass: a large body of air that has nearly the same temperature
and humidity throughout.
• Moist air masses form over water. Air masses that form over land are
generally dry.
• Air masses that form near Earth’s poles are cold. Air masses that
form in the tropics or areas near the equator are warm.
Q/ What is a front?
• Front: is the place where two air masses of different temperature
meet.
Unit 1 chapter 1 section 2

How are weather’s elements measured?

Weather elements measurement
• Meteorologists: are scientists who study and measure weather elements.
• Weather elements are:
1. Air temperature.
2. Air pressure
3. Wind speed
4. Wind direction

Instruments used to measure weather elements

1. Thermometer: measures the temperature of air.
2. Barometer: measures the air pressure.
3. Hygrometer: measures moisture in the air.
4. Anemometer: measures wind speed.
5. Weather vane or windsock: measures wind direction.
 Most cold air masses are denser than warm air masses, so cold air masses
have higher air pressure.
 Humidity: the amount of water vapor in the air.
 Warm air can have more water vapor than cool air.
Unit 1 chapter 2 section 1

What else is in the solar system?

Earth and the Moon in Space
• The moon: is the brightest object in the night sky and Earth’s nearest
neighbor in space.
• Orbit: the path one body in space takes as it revolves around another body;
such as planet Earth as it revolves around the sun.
• Axis: is an imaginary line that passes through Earth’s center and its North and
South poles.
New moon
• The moon is between Earth and the sun.
• The moon can’t be seen because the part sun is shining on isn’t visible from
Earth.
Rotation and Time
• Earth’s surface is divided into 24 standard time zones. Each time zone
represents one of the hours in a day.

Earth’s seasons
• Solstice: point in Earth’s orbit at which daylight hours are at the greatest or
fewest.
• Equinox: point in Earth’s orbit at which the hours of daylight and darkness
are equal.
Planets, asteroids, and comets
• Planets: are large, round bodies that around a star.
 Inner plants: the four planets closest to the sun, small and rocky.
 Outer planets: four are huge and made mostly of gases. The ninth planet,
Pluto, is small and icy.

•
• Asteroids: are chunks of rock that have been described as looking like giant
potatoes in space.
• Comets: are balls of ice and rock, circle the sun from two regions beyond the
orbit of Pluto.
Q/ How are time zones related to Earth’s rotation?
- Each time zone represents one on the hours in a day.

Q/ when is the spring equinox in the Northern Hemisphere?

- Is about March 21

Q/ what bodies make up the solar system?

- Planets, asteroids and comets
unit 1 chapter 2 section 2

How have people explored the solar system?

Exploring the solar system
• Telescope: is an instrument that magnifies, or makes larger, distant objects.

• Satellite: is any artificial object that orbits a planet in space.

Q/ How did the telescope help people learn about objects in space?
- Makes distant objects larger.
To the moon and beyond
• One of the best-known American space programs was Project Apollo. The
Apollo missions landed 12 humans on the moon.
• Their work helped scientists learn more about the moon.
• Space probe: is a robot vehicle used to explore deep space.

Spacesuit
• Spacesuit provide for an astronaut life support, including air and protection
from intense heat and cold.