Atmosphere
The atmosphere is a layer of gases that surrounds the Earth. It is held in place by the Earth's gravity and is essential for life on our planet. The atmosphere is made up of several different gases, with the most abundant being nitrogen and oxygen. Other gases, such as carbon dioxide, water vapor, and argon, are also present in smaller amounts.
Layers of the Atmosphere
The atmosphere is divided into several layers based on temperature and composition. The layers, from lowest to highest, are:
Functions of the Atmosphere
The atmosphere serves several important functions, including:
- Protecting the Earth from the sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays
- Regulating the Earth's temperature through the greenhouse effect
- Supporting life by providing the oxygen and carbon dioxide necessary for respiration and photosynthesis
- Transporting and distributing heat and moisture around the planet
Atmospheric Pressure
Atmospheric pressure is the force exerted by the weight of the air above a given point. It decreases with increasing altitude, meaning that air pressure is higher at lower altitudes and lower at higher altitudes.
Review Questions
- What are the two most abundant gases in the Earth's atmosphere?
- Which layer of the atmosphere is closest to the Earth's surface?
- What is the greenhouse effect, and how does it impact the Earth's climate?
- Explain how atmospheric pressure changes with altitude.
[Atmosphere] Related Worksheets and Study Guides:
.◂Math Worksheets and Study Guides Sixth Grade. Proportions/Equivalent Fractions
Study Guide
Proportions/Equivalent Fractions 
Worksheet/Answer key
Proportions/Equivalent Fractions Worksheet/Answer key
Proportions/Equivalent Fractions Worksheet/Answer key
Proportions/Equivalent Fractions
Worksheet/Answer keyWorksheet/Answer keyWorksheet/Answer keyCreate And Print more Fractions worksheets with Comparing Fractions, Equivalent Fractions, and Simplifying Fractions
The resources above cover the following skills:
Number and Operations (NCTM)
Understand numbers, ways of representing numbers, relationships among numbers, and number systems.
Understand and use ratios and proportions to represent quantitative relationships.
Compute fluently and make reasonable estimates.
Develop, analyze, and explain methods for solving problems involving proportions, such as scaling and finding equivalent ratios.
Grade 6 Curriculum Focal Points (NCTM)
Number and Operations: Connecting ratio and rate to multiplication and division
Students use simple reasoning about multiplication and division to solve ratio and rate problems (e.g., 'If 5 items cost $3.75 and all items are the same price, then I can find the cost of 12 items by first dividing $3.75 by 5 to find out how much one item costs and then multiplying the cost of a single item by 12'). By viewing equivalent ratios and rates as deriving from, and extending, pairs of rows (or columns) in the multiplication table, and by analyzing simple drawings that indicate the relative sizes of quantities, students extend whole number multiplication and division to ratios and rates. Thus, they expand the repertoire of problems that they can solve by using multiplication and division, and they build on their understanding of fractions to understand ratios. Students solve a wide variety of problems involving ratios and rates.