Earth & Atmospheric Science Practice Questions

Which process released the gases that are thought to have formed the Earth's early atmosphere?

	process
A	condensation of water vapour
B	photosynthesis by primitive plants
C	respiration by animals
D	volcanic activity

Name the gas that is thought to have made up the largest part of the Earth's early atmosphere.

The Earth's early atmosphere contained little or no oxygen.

Describe the chemical test for oxygen gas.

The table shows the approximate composition of dry air in the Earth's atmosphere today.

gas	percentage of dry air
nitrogen	78
oxygen
argon	0.9
carbon dioxide

Complete the table.

Name one other gas, not shown in the table, that is present in the air around us.

Which of these gases is not a greenhouse gas?

	gas
A	carbon dioxide
B	methane
C	nitrogen
D	water vapour

Give one human activity that increases the amount of methane in the atmosphere.

Give one possible effect on the Earth of an increase in the mean global temperature.

Explain how the Earth's oceans were formed.

Explain how the formation of the oceans caused the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to decrease.

Some of the carbon removed from the early atmosphere is now found in fossil fuels such as coal.

Explain how carbon from the atmosphere became locked up in fossil fuels.

Explain how the data for Venus and Mars supports the idea that the Earth's early atmosphere contained a large amount of carbon dioxide and little or no oxygen.

Explain how the growth of primitive plants changed the composition of the Earth's atmosphere.

Suggest why the percentage of oxygen in the atmosphere of Mars has stayed very low.

Explain why the water level inside the measuring cylinder rises during the week.

The student recorded these results.

measurement	volume in $\mathrm{cm^3}$
volume of air at the start	50.0
volume of gas after one week	39.5

Calculate the percentage of oxygen in this sample of air.

Suggest why the measuring cylinder is left for a week before the final volume is measured.

Name two greenhouse gases, other than carbon dioxide, that are found in the Earth's atmosphere.

Describe how greenhouse gases in the atmosphere keep the Earth warm.

Explain why an increase in the number of cattle farmed could lead to an increase in the mean temperature of the Earth's atmosphere.

Give two ways the country could reduce the amount of carbon dioxide it releases into the atmosphere.

One plan is to capture the carbon dioxide produced by a power station and store it deep underground.

Give one advantage and one disadvantage of this plan.

Calculate the percentage increase in the mean atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration between 1960 and 2020.

Give your answer to 3 significant figures.

Describe the correlation shown by the data in the table.

A student says, "This data proves that burning fossil fuels is causing the temperature of the Earth to rise."

Evaluate the student's statement, using the information in the table and your own knowledge.