Republic of the Philippines

Department of Education Regional Office IX, Zamboanga Peninsula

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Science Grade 7 Quarter 4 - Module 3

Exploring the Earth’s

Atmosphere

NameofLearner:

Grade&Section:

Name ofSchool:

What I Need to Know

This module was purposefully written for you. It will help you understand

and overcome the basic concepts behind how energy from the Sun interacts

with the atmosphere's layers (S7ES-IVd-5).

After this module, you are expected to:

1. Discuss how energy from the Sun interacts with the layers of the

atmosphere;

2. Describe the features of the layers of the atmosphere;

3. Relate the concept of a greenhouse to the increasing temperature of

Earth’s atmosphere.

We are always fond of looking into the sky, especially when airplanes or

helicopters circling above. We found ourselves excited when we witness meteors

falling from above and watched the rain as it falls down. We are fascinated

when the clouds formed shapes such as the shape of a dog or the shape of a

rabbit. Satellites can be found in the sky but not visible to our naked eye. All

of these phenomena happen in each layer of the Earth’s atmosphere. These are

the following layers in an orderly manner, from bottom to top: troposphere,

stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, and exosphere. As you read this, look

above the sky and explore the wonders of the atmosphere.

What’s In

Activity 1: Earth’s Natural Resources

Directions: Identify the following materials written in the box whether it is

renewable or non-renewable resources. Write your answers in the table below.

Exploring the Earth’s

Atmosphere

Module

3

10

humans flowers soil animals

trees oil coal aluminum

iron copper

Based on the activity above, what do you mean by renewable and non-renewable?

• Renewable resources are ___________________________________________________.

• Non-renewable resources are _______________________________________________.

What’s New This activity will give you basic information

about the layers of the Earth's atmosphere.

Activity 2: What is the basis for dividing the Earth's atmosphere?

Materials Needed:

• The Graph in Figure 1

• Ruler (optional)

Procedure:

1. Study the graph.

2. Answer the following questions:

Renewable Non-renewable

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Figure 1: Layers of the Atmosphere

Q.1. What are the five layers of the Earth’s atmosphere starting from bottom to top?

Estimate each height by km.

Answer:

Q.2 In which layer does the temperature increases the most and with increasing

altitude?

Answer:___________________________

Q.3. In which layer does the temperature decrease the most but with increasing

altitude?

Answer:___________________________

Q.4. Which layer is the closest to the Sun?

Answer:___________________________

Q.5 Which layer is the farthest from the Sun?

Answer:___________________________

Q.6 Based on the graph, what is the basis for dividing the atmosphere?

Answer:___________________________

Q.7 What is the relationship between temperature and height, specifically called

"altitude"?

Answer:___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Layers of the Earth’s Atmosphere: Height (km)

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

What is it?

The Earth’s Atmosphere

Let’s explore the five layers of the Earth starting from bottom to top:

TROPO-

SPHERE

•This layer is the closest to the Earth’s surface. The temperature just abovethe ground is hotter than the temperature high above.

•Weather occurs in the troposphere because this layer contains most of thewater vapor. Remember the water cycle? Without water, there would be noclouds, rain, snow or other weather features.

•Air in the troposphere is constantly moving. As a result, aircraft flyingthrough the troposphere may have a very bumpy ride – what we know asturbulence.

• People who have used the airplane for travelling have experienced thisespecially when there is a typhoon in areas where the plane passes through.

STRATO-

SPHERE

• This layer of air that extends to about 50 km from Earth’s surface.

•Many jet aircraft fly in the stratosphere because it is very stable.

•It is in the stratosphere that we find the ozone layer.

•The ozone layer absorbs much of the Sun’s harmful radiation that would otherwise be dangerous to plant and animal life.

MESO-

SPHERE

•The layer between 50 km and 80 km above the Earth’s surface

•Air in this layer is very thin and cold.

•Meteors or rock fragments burn up in the mesosphere.

THERMO-

SPHERE

•This layer lies between 80 km and 110 km above the Earth.

• Space shuttles fly in this area and it is also where the auroras are found.

•Auroras are caused when the solar wind strikes gases in the atmosphere above the Poles. Why can we not see auroras in the Philippines?

EXO-

SPHERE

•The upper limit of our atmosphere.

• This layer of the atmosphere merges into space.

•Satellites are stationed in this area, 500 km to 1000 km from Earth.

Figure 2: Gases in the Atmosphere

Based on the graph above, most of the Earth’s atmosphere is made up of78%

nitrogen, while oxygen is 21%, and the remaining 1% is a mixture of carbon dioxide,

water vapor, and ozone. Trace gases (carbon dioxide, water vapor, methane, and

ozone) not only produce important weather features but also have an influence on the

overall climate of the Earth through the greenhouse effect and global warming.

Awesome! You successfully understood the basic concepts of the Earth’s atmosphere;

you are now ready to study some global atmospheric phenomena. Have fun!

What is the Greenhouse effect?

To understand the greenhouse effect, you need first to understand how a real

greenhouse functions.

In the late winter and early spring in temperate countries, a greenhouse is used to

grow seedlings. Then, it will be planted in the open field when the weather is warmer.

Greenhouses protect plants from weather phenomena such as snowstorms or dust

storms. Commercial plant growers used greenhouses to protect flowering and

ornamental plants from harsh weather conditions and insect attacks, especially in

tropical countries.

Greenhouses range in size from a small house to huge buildings. It varies in terms of types of covering materials such as glass and plastics.

78%

21%

1%

Gases in the Atmosphere

Nitrogen Oxygen Water Vapor, Carbon Dioxide, Ozone,methane

Figure 3: An example of greenhouse

Trivia: For those so-called “plantitos” and “plantitas," you can build your greenhouse in your

home! Just make sure that you have a spacious area where you can put it.

As you can see, a greenhouse has a lot to maintain for the plants to grow. The

atmosphere of the greenhouse must be kept warm and moist. The glass/plastic

covering materials enable the light to pass through. The “glass” acts as trapping the

heat inside to make the greenhouse warm. This setting is also the same for the Earth’s

atmosphere; that is why it is called, Greenhouse Effect.

The 'greenhouse effect' warms the Earth, and it is considered a natural process.

Without it, Earth would be very cold, too cold for living things, such as plants and

animals.

Sources of Greenhouse gases (Trace Gases):

Living things like plants and trees take in and use carbon dioxide to produce

their food. Carbon dioxide was also produced by volcanoes. Methane comes from

grazing animals as they digest their food and from decaying matter in wet rice fields.

Ozone is also naturally present in the stratosphere.

But human activities emit a lot of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

Study Figure 7.

Figure 4: Carbon Dioxide Concentration in the Atmosphere

Based on the diagram, which fossil fuel has the highest contribution to carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere?

Think about this!

➢ Carbon dioxide (CO2) comes from:

▪ burning of fossil fuels such as coal, crude oil, and natural gas.

▪ cutting down and burning trees release carbon dioxide into the air.

➢ Methane comes from:

▪ buried waste such as left-over food, garden waste, and animal waste

collected from our houses are thrown into dumpsite; when lots of wastes

are compressed and packed together, they produce methane.

▪ Coal mining also produces methane.

And another group of greenhouse gases includes:

▪ -CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons) which found in spray cans as propellants,

refrigerators as refrigerants, making foam plastics as foaming agents.

When those were released into the atmosphere, it would be dangerous.

Thus, depleting the ozone layer. Their use has been banned around the

world.

▪ More carbon dioxide means that more heat is trapped in the Earth’s

atmosphere. More heat cannot return into space. More heat trapped by

carbon dioxide means a warmer Earth.

Global warming means the increasing temperature phenomenon. When we

say global, it means that all countries and people around the world are affected even

if that country is not a major contributor to greenhouse gases. Many scientists

concluded that many human activities emit more greenhouse gases into the

atmosphere, making the natural greenhouse effect stronger. Scientists are also saying

that if we still continue polluting the atmosphere with those greenhouse gases, it will

have a dangerous effect on the Earth. If those harmful human activities will continue,

how does the Earth survive? How humanity survives?

What’s More

Activity 3: Fact or Bluff?

Directions: Write the word “Fact” if the statement is true and “Bluff” if the statement is false.

____________1. Meteors burn up in the mesosphere.

____________2. Exosphere is the upper limit of our atmosphere.

____________3. Satellites are stationed in the troposphere.

____________4. Aircraft flying through the stratosphere may have a bumpy ride as what we knew as turbulence.

____________5. Troposphere contains most of the water vapor.

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____________6. It is in the stratosphere where we can find the ozone layer.

____________7. Space shuttles fly in stratosphere.

____________8. Air in troposphere is very thin and cold.

____________9. Exosphere merges into space.

____________10. Auroras can be found in thermosphere.

What I Have Learned

Activity 4: Let’s Find Out!

This activity will check what you have learned about the Earth’s atmosphere by

completing the graphic organizer below:

1. Directions: Complete the graphic organizer below by writing the five layers of the

atmosphere on the blank space after the number in an orderly manner and draw

what is happening in each layer on the given space in the box. The answer for item

no. 1 has already been provided for you as your guide.

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1

.

2

.

3

4

5

troposphere

2. Directions: Refer to the diagram below. Answer the questions briefly.

1. Where is the Earth’s energy coming from?

Answer:___________________________________________________________________

2. Does all heat escape into space? Yes or No? Why or why not?

Answer:___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

3. Based on your answer on No. 2, do greenhouse gases retain or release heat?

Answer:___________________________________________________________________

4. Why is the atmosphere important to all living things’ survival?

Answer:___________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

What I can do

Activity 5: Write your thoughts!

Directions: Answer the question below in an essay form.

1. If you were to create a model of a greenhouse for your plants, what should be

the necessary materials that are needed and essential steps that you should

follow for your plants to grow healthy inside the greenhouse? Write your

answer inside the box below.

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Post Assessment (Set A)

Directions: Encircle the letter of the best answer:

1. Which layer of the atmosphere does the air constantly moving?

A. mesosphere C. exosphere

B. thermosphere D. troposphere

2. What is the role of the ozone layer in the atmosphere?

A. It burns meteors and other rock fragments.

B. It gives off energy to the Earth and other heavenly bodies.

C. It allows the Sun's harmful radiation from entering the Earth's surface.

D. It acts as a protection of the Earth by absorbing the Sun's harmful

radiation.

3. Which layer does merge into space?

A. stratosphere C. mesosphere

B. exosphere D. thermosphere

4. Where do meteors burn in the atmosphere?

A. thermosphere C. mesosphere

B. Troposphere D. exosphere

5. How many percent of oxygen does the atmosphere contains?

A. 78 % B. 60 % C. 25% D. 21%

Post Assessment (Set B)

Directions: Encircle the letter of the best answer:

1. Which layer of the atmosphere has very thin and cold air?

A. mesosphere C. exosphere

B. thermosphere D. troposphere

2. What do you mean by trace gases?

A. They are not harmful

B. They are naturally occurring on Earth

C. They are emitted by trees

D. They are present in very small amounts.

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3. Where can we find Auroras?

A. stratosphere C. mesosphere

B. exosphere D. thermosphere

4. Which layer does the airplane experience “turbulence”?

A. thermosphere C. mesosphere

B. troposphere D. exosphere

5. How many percent of trace gases does the atmosphere contains?

A. 78 % B. 6 % C. 1% D. 21%

6. The following are the common sources of methane, EXCEPT:

A. trees B. garden waste C. cloth D. volcanoes

7. Which of the following element is the most abundant in the Earth's

atmosphere?

A. Argon C. Nitrogen

B. Carbon dioxide D. Oxygen

8. Why is ozone above the troposphere essential?

A. It warms Earth’s surface.

B. It helps in cloud formation.

C. It makes jet flying more comfortable.

D. It offers protection from harmful UV rays.

9. Why was the use of chlorofluorocarbons banned all over the world?

A. It depletes the stratosphere. C. It depletes the ozone layer.

B. The atmosphere is unstable. D. The atmosphere will be too cold.

10. Clara noticed that her plants are not growing healthy. She suspects that

the temperature in their area is too hot. So, she decided to make a

greenhouse for her plants. Is Clara’s decision right in making a

greenhouse?

A. Yes, because the increasing temperature will ruin the plants.

B. Yes, because the increasing temperature will not ruin the plants.

C. No, because the greenhouse does not affect the plants.

D. No, because the greenhouse has a bad effect on the plants.

Additional Activities

Activity 7:Match Me!

Directions: Match Column A with the corresponding answers to Column B.

Write the letter in the space provided before the number.

Column A Column B

________1. Nitrogen a. meteors burn in this area.

________2. Oxygen b. satellites stationed in this area.

________3. Troposphere c. 21% contains in the atmosphere.

________4. Exosphere d. weather occurs in this area.

________5. Mesosphere e. ozone layer found in this area.

________6. Thermosphere f. 78% contains in the atmosphere.

________7. Stratosphere g. space shuttles fly in this area

________8. Trace gases h. propellants

________9. Refrigerator i. greenhouse gases

________10. Spray cans j. refrigerants

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Answer Key Grade 7-Science- Quarter 4-Module 3-Week3

References

Books: Science Learner’s Material Grade-7, Pages 233-241

Science Teacher’s Guide Grade-7, Pages 193-198

Electronic Resources: http://surl.li/irew

http://surl.li/irex

Development Team REGION IX HYMN

Writer: BEA LOU N. TUMANDAY Editors/QA: MATTHEW T. SABASALES Reviewer: MILA P. ARAO Illustrator: Layout Artist: Management Team:

DANNY B. CORDOVA, EdD, CESO VI SDS

MA. COLLEEN L. EMORICHA, EdD, CESE

ASDS

MAT RANILLO O. SINGSON, EdD

ASDS

MARIA DIOA Z. PERALTA

CID Chief

MA. MADELENE P. MITUDA, EdD

EPS-LRMDS

MILA P. ARAO EPS-SCIENCE

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