UNIT 2:

ATMOSPHERE
 EXAM QUESTIONS
Four possible answers are given for the following
questions. Each question has only ONE correct answer.
Choose the correct answer and mark the applicable
LETTER with a cross (X).
 EXAM QUESTIONS
1. In addition to oxygen, which gases make up the largest
percentage of Earth’s atmosphere?
A. Hydrogen, helium, and water vapour
B. Hydrogen, methane, and ozone
C. Carbon dioxide, water vapour, and nitrogen
D. Carbon dioxide, methane, and helium
 EXAM QUESTIONS
2. The movement of an air mass over Earth’s surface
causes:
A. earthquake activity.
B. local weather changes.
C. global warming.
D. ecological succession.
 EXAM QUESTIONS
3. Most scientists agree that an increase in the amount of
greenhouse gases entering Earth’s atmosphere causes:
A. a decrease in sea level.
B. a decrease in average surface temperatures.
C. an increase in melting of polar ice caps.
D. an increase in crustal plate movement.
 EXAM QUESTIONS
4. The diagram below shows a weather instrument.
Which weather condition is measured by this
instrument?
 EXAM QUESTIONS
A. Humidity B. Air pressure
C. Wind direction D. Wind speed

5. Which greenhouse gas in the air will increase the most

if large forests are cut down to be used for building
materials without planting new trees in their place?
A. Ozone B. Methane
C. Water vapour D. Carbon dioxide
 EXAM QUESTIONS
Give one word/term for each of the following
descriptions.

1. The temperature change that takes place with

altitude.
Temperature gradient

2. Dust or small rocks that burn up when entering the

mesosphere.
Shooting star
 EXAM QUESTIONS
3. Process in which atoms combine to create larger atoms
and massive amounts of energy.
Nuclear fusion
 EXAM QUESTIONS
1 The diagram represents the altitude, in kilometres (km),
of different layers of
Earth’s atmosphere:
 EXAM QUESTIONS
1.1 Name spheres A and B which forms part of the
atmosphere.
(a) Stratosphere
(b) Mesosphere

1.2 What is the transition, (indicated by x), between the

troposphere and sphere A is called?
Tropopause
 EXAM QUESTIONS
1.3 Explain the interaction between the biosphere,
lithosphere, hydrosphere and the atmosphere.
The biosphere consists of all living organisms (animals
and plants) that survive because of their interaction
with the lithosphere (solid rock and soil). The
lithosphere needs water (hydrosphere) and gas
(atmosphere) to exist. Therefore, one can only survive
with the support of the other. (If the learner explains
the interaction correctly full marks must be awarded.)
 EXAM QUESTIONS
2 Complete the following statements, using the words in
the box below.
helium; red giant; constellation; carbon; black
holes; nebulae; neutron star; protostar; galaxy;
neon; iron, solar systems; white dwarf
 EXAM QUESTIONS
2.1 Stars that does not allow light to escape are called…
black holes

2.2 A … consists of stars, planets, and dust, which are

formed from a...
galaxy, nebulae

2.3 Stars are big balls of gas that emit light and consist
mainly of hydrogen and…
helium
 EXAM QUESTIONS
2.4 Stars form within…
nebulae

2.5 A … is a very dense stellar remnant composed mostly

of electron degenerated matter.
white dwarf
 EXAM QUESTIONS
3 The diagram represents the height, in kilometer (km),
of different layers of Earth’s atmosphere.
 EXAM QUESTIONS
Name:
3.1 point X;
Mesospheric temperature minimum

3.2 area Y;
Stratopause

3.3 the sphere in which the weather system occur.

Troposphere
 EXAM QUESTIONS
4 The diagram demonstrates the effect of solar radiation
on Earth and the atmosphere. CO2 and other gases in
the atmosphere trap heat, keeping Earth warm.
 EXAM QUESTIONS
4.1 What is the effect called as illustrated above?
Greenhouse effect

4.2 Other than CO2, name two other gases that also trap
heat.
Water vapour, methane
 EXAM QUESTIONS
4.3 What is an increase in the average temperature of the
atmosphere called?
Global warming

4.4 What activities or factors contribute to the increase in

the atmosphere’s average temperature?
Combustion of fossil fuels; increase in the number of
people and animals on Earth; decrease in forests and
tree plantations.
 EXAM QUESTIONS
4.5 Name the effects of this average temperature
increase on Earth.
Ice melts at the Poles; ocean temperature rises and
sea level rises; changing weather patterns.
 EXAM QUESTIONS
5 The picture shows a nebula:
 EXAM QUESTIONS
5.1 Explain what a nebula is and what arises from it.
Nebulae are huge clouds of gas and dust from which
stars are born.
5.2 What is the process called during which stars undergo
radical changes over a lifetime?
Stellar evolution
 EXAM QUESTIONS
5.3 What is the lifetime of a star dependent on?
Mass of the star; type of fuel of star (star composition)

6 Stars change their appearance over billions of years. A

way of classifying stars is according to their colour or
spectral class.
6.1 What colour are stars that are usually hot and young?
Blue
 EXAM QUESTIONS
6.2 What does the colour or spectral class tell us about
the particular star?
The temperature of the star

6.3 Our sun is almost halfway through its life cycle. What
will happen to the sun towards the end of its life
cycle?
The sun will start to swell to form a red giant since all
the hydrogen available for fusion at its core has been
depleted.
 EXAM QUESTIONS
7 Study the graph:
 EXAM QUESTIONS
7.1 In which layer is the lowest temperature reached?
Mesosphere

7.2 Why is the temperature so low in this layer?

The air is extremely thin.

7.3 Why are temperatures so high in the thermosphere?

Because the gas particles in this layer absorb shortwave
radiation and x-rays from the sun.
 EXAM QUESTIONS
7.4 In which layer of the atmosphere is the ozone layer?
Stratosphere

7.5 Determine the temperature 10 km high in the sky.

-60°C
 EXAM QUESTIONS
8 The diagram shows the forces involved during nuclear
fusion of a star:
 EXAM QUESTIONS
8.1 Describe what happens during a nuclear fusion
reaction.
Hydrogen is changed to helium and a lot of energy is
released.

8.2 Use the diagram to explain how it is possible that the

star does not collapse under its own weight.
The outward pressure of the nuclear fusion reaction
balances the inward force of gravity.
 EXAM QUESTIONS
9. State three functions of the atmosphere.
Source of essential life gases, e.g. oxygen, nitrogen, CO2
Provides protection against hazardous radiation from
the sun.
Maintain a moderate temperature.
 EXAM QUESTIONS
10 The picture shows air, water and soil:
 EXAM QUESTIONS
10.1 Name the three spheres to which each of the above
words belong.
Air: atmosphere
Water: hydrosphere
Ground: lithosphere

10.2 Name the layer of air in which animals and plants

live and exist.
Troposphere
 EXAM QUESTIONS
10.3 Give a reason why most life occurs within the first
2 km above Earth’s surface.
Above 2 km it becomes too cold and the air is too thin.