The Atmosphere · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.

The Atmosphere

Science · Weather & Climate · ages 9-11
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. Air has weight and pushes down on things around it.

    Circle one:   True   False

  2. What is the atmosphere?

    • The layer of air surrounding Earth
    • The rocky core of Earth
    • The water that covers Earth

  3. Which layer of the atmosphere is closest to the ground, where weather happens?

    TroposphereStratosphereMesosphereThermosphereExosphere
    • The stratosphere
    • The troposphere
    • The exosphere

  4. A weather reporter warns of a storm with heavy clouds and rain. Which layer of the atmosphere is she talking about?

    • The troposphere
    • The stratosphere
    • Outer space

  5. Priya climbs a tall mountain. What happens to the air pressure as she goes higher?

    • It gets stronger
    • It stays exactly the same
    • It gets weaker

  6. Why do your ears sometimes pop when an airplane climbs high into the sky?

    • The plane is getting heavier
    • The air pressure outside is changing
    • The troposphere disappears

  7. During a big storm, the rain and clouds can rise up into the stratosphere.

    Circle one:   True   False

  8. Jamal says the atmosphere is just empty space above Earth with nothing in it. What is wrong with his idea?

    • Jamal is right, there is nothing above Earth
    • The atmosphere is actually water, not air
    • The atmosphere is full of air, which has weight and presses on us
LightMySky · lightmysky.comW1-mt_fkcxpeYP85-s1

Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

The Atmosphere W1-mt_fkcxpeYP85-s1

  1. True · Even though you cannot see air, it has weight and presses on everything. That is air pressure.
  2. The layer of air surrounding Earth · The atmosphere is the blanket of air that wraps around our planet.
  3. The troposphere · The troposphere is the lowest layer, and it is where clouds, rain, and wind form.
  4. The troposphere · Clouds, rain, and storms all happen in the troposphere, the lowest layer of air.
  5. It gets weaker · There is less air piled up above you at higher places, so the air pressure gets weaker.
  6. The air pressure outside is changing · As the plane climbs, the air pressure outside drops, and your ears react to that change.
  7. False · Weather is trapped in the troposphere. Storms do not reach into the stratosphere above it.
  8. The atmosphere is full of air, which has weight and presses on us · The atmosphere is not empty. It is made of air, and that air has weight and creates pressure.
Worksheet · LightMySky