Atmosphere Quiz: Trivia Knowledge! MCQ
Are you looking for an atmosphere trivia knowledge quiz? The earth’s atmosphere is made up of different layers with the closest being the troposphere and the furthest being the mesosphere. Each of the layers has specific characteristics which help the earth in maintaining life. The earth’s atmosphere is majorly comprised of nitrogen and oxygen gasses. Do take the quiz and refresh your memory on the different layers and their basic characteristics.
Questions and Answers
- 1.
What is the atmospheric layer closest to the ground?
- A.
Mesosphere
- B.
Troposphere
- C.
Thermosphere
- D.
Stratosphere
Correct Answer
B. TroposphereExplanation
The troposphere is the atmospheric layer closest to the ground. It is where weather occurs and where most of Earth's air mass is located. This layer extends from the Earth's surface up to an average height of about 7-20 kilometers. The temperature in this layer generally decreases with altitude, and it is where we live and breathe.Rate this question:
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- 2.
What is the second atmospheric layer from the ground?
- A.
Thermosphere
- B.
Stratosphere
- C.
Troposphere
- D.
Mesosphere
Correct Answer
B. StratosphereExplanation
The second atmospheric layer from the ground is the stratosphere. The atmosphere is divided into several layers based on temperature changes and composition. The stratosphere is located above the troposphere, which is the lowest layer of the atmosphere. In the stratosphere, the temperature increases with altitude due to the presence of the ozone layer. This layer plays a crucial role in protecting the Earth's surface from harmful ultraviolet radiation.Rate this question:
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- 3.
What is the third atmospheric layer from the ground?
- A.
Troposphere
- B.
Thermosphere
- C.
Stratosphere
- D.
Mesosphere
Correct Answer
D. MesosphereExplanation
The mesosphere is the third atmospheric layer from the ground. It is located above the stratosphere and below the thermosphere. This layer is characterized by a decrease in temperature with increasing altitude. It is also the layer where meteors burn up upon entering the Earth's atmosphere.Rate this question:
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- 4.
What is the fourth atmospheric layer from the ground?
- A.
Thermosphere
- B.
Mesosphere
- C.
Troposphere
- D.
Stratosphere
Correct Answer
A. ThermosphereExplanation
The thermosphere is the fourth atmospheric layer from the ground. It is located above the mesosphere and below the exosphere. The thermosphere is characterized by its high temperatures and the presence of highly charged particles, such as ions and electrons. It is also the layer where the International Space Station orbits the Earth.Rate this question:
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- 5.
What layer of the atmosphere has the aurora borealis in it?
- A.
Stratosphere
- B.
Mesosphere
- C.
Troposphere
- D.
Thermosphere
Correct Answer
D. ThermosphereExplanation
The aurora borealis, also known as the Northern Lights, is a natural light display that occurs in the upper atmosphere. It is caused by the interaction between the Earth's magnetic field and charged particles from the sun. The thermosphere is the layer of the atmosphere that is closest to outer space and is characterized by high temperatures. This is where the aurora borealis occurs, making it the correct answer.Rate this question:
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- 6.
What layer has the ozone layer in it?
- A.
Mesosphere
- B.
Troposphere
- C.
Thermosphere
- D.
Stratosphere
Correct Answer
D. StratosphereExplanation
The ozone layer is located in the stratosphere. This layer of the Earth's atmosphere is situated above the troposphere and below the mesosphere. The stratosphere is where the majority of the ozone molecules are found, forming a protective layer that absorbs and filters out harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun. This is why the ozone layer is crucial for protecting life on Earth from the harmful effects of excessive UV radiation.Rate this question:
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- 7.
What does the ozone layer do?
- A.
It protects us from meteors
- B.
It protects us from violent solar flares
- C.
It protects us from ultra violet radiation
- D.
It helps us breathe
Correct Answer
C. It protects us from ultra violet radiationExplanation
The ozone layer acts as a shield, protecting us from harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation emitted by the sun. UV radiation can cause various health issues, including skin cancer, cataracts, and weakened immune system. The ozone layer absorbs and filters out most of the UV radiation, allowing only a small amount to reach the Earth's surface. This crucial role of the ozone layer makes it essential for the preservation of life on our planet.Rate this question:
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- 8.
What layer protects us by burning up most meteors?
- A.
Stratosphere
- B.
Mesosphere
- C.
Troposphere
- D.
Thermosphere
Correct Answer
B. MesosphereExplanation
The mesosphere is the correct answer because it is the layer of the Earth's atmosphere that protects us by burning up most meteors. Meteors often burn up upon entering the Earth's atmosphere due to the friction caused by the mesosphere's high temperatures. This layer is located above the stratosphere and below the thermosphere. The troposphere is the layer closest to the Earth's surface and the stratosphere is above it, while the thermosphere is the outermost layer of the atmosphere.Rate this question:
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- 9.
What layer does most weather occur in?
- A.
Troposphere
- B.
Stratosphere
- C.
Thermosphere
- D.
Mesosphere
Correct Answer
A. TroposphereExplanation
The troposphere is the layer of the Earth's atmosphere where weather occurs. It is the lowest layer of the atmosphere and extends from the Earth's surface up to about 8-15 kilometers. This layer is characterized by decreasing temperature with increasing altitude and contains most of the Earth's weather systems, such as clouds, precipitation, and storms. The other layers mentioned, the stratosphere, thermosphere, and mesosphere, are located above the troposphere and do not experience as much weather activity.Rate this question:
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- 10.
What is the coldest layer in the atmosphere?
- A.
Troposphere
- B.
Thermosphere
- C.
Stratosphere
- D.
Mesosphere
Correct Answer
D. MesosphereExplanation
The mesosphere is the coldest layer in the atmosphere. It is located above the stratosphere and below the thermosphere. In this layer, temperatures decrease with increasing altitude, reaching extremely low temperatures. This is due to the thin air and lack of solar heating. The mesosphere is also where meteors burn up upon entering the Earth's atmosphere.Rate this question:
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- 11.
What is the hottest layer in the atmosphere?
- A.
Mesosphere
- B.
Thermosphere
- C.
Stratosphere
- D.
Troposphere
Correct Answer
B. ThermosphereExplanation
The thermosphere is the hottest layer in the atmosphere. It is located above the mesosphere and extends up to the exosphere. This layer is characterized by extremely high temperatures due to the absorption of solar radiation. The thermosphere is also where the International Space Station orbits.Rate this question:
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- 12.
What is the most common gas in the atmosphere?
- A.
Oxygen
- B.
Carbon dioxide
- C.
Nitrogen
- D.
Methane
Correct Answer
C. NitrogenExplanation
The most common gas in the atmosphere is nitrogen. Nitrogen makes up about 78% of the Earth's atmosphere. It is an essential component for many biological processes and is also used in various industrial applications. Oxygen, carbon dioxide, and methane are also present in the atmosphere but in much smaller quantities compared to nitrogen.Rate this question:
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- 13.
What gas makes up around 21% of our atmosphere?
- A.
Methane
- B.
Oxygen
- C.
Nitrogen
- D.
Carbon dioxide
Correct Answer
B. OxygenExplanation
Oxygen makes up around 21% of our atmosphere. It is an essential gas for supporting life as it is required for respiration in most organisms. Oxygen is produced through photosynthesis by plants and algae, and it is also released into the atmosphere by certain bacteria. It is necessary for the combustion of fuels and plays a crucial role in the ozone layer, which protects us from harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun.Rate this question:
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- 14.
What is the atmosphere?
- A.
A layer of fluids surrounding an object.
- B.
A layer of gas surrounding a planet or moon.
- C.
A cloud of gas that allows us to breathe.
- D.
A layer of oxygen that surrounds a planet or moon.
Correct Answer
B. A layer of gas surrounding a planet or moon.Explanation
The atmosphere refers to a layer of gas that surrounds a planet or moon. It is composed of various gases such as nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and others. The atmosphere plays a crucial role in protecting the planet or moon by absorbing harmful radiation from the sun, regulating temperature, and providing the necessary gases for life to exist.Rate this question:
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- 15.
What happens to temperature as you go higher in the troposphere?
- A.
It gets hotter
- B.
It gets colder
- C.
It stays the same
- D.
It is always changing
Correct Answer
B. It gets colderExplanation
As you go higher in the troposphere, the temperature decreases. This is because the troposphere is the lowest layer of the Earth's atmosphere, and it is closest to the surface. The temperature in the troposphere decreases with altitude due to the decrease in air pressure. As the air pressure decreases, the air molecules spread out and the heat energy becomes less concentrated, resulting in a decrease in temperature. Therefore, it gets colder as you go higher in the troposphere.Rate this question:
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- 16.
What happens to temperature as you go higher in the stratosphere?
- A.
It stays the same
- B.
It gets hotter
- C.
It gets colder
- D.
It is always changing
Correct Answer
B. It gets hotterExplanation
As you go higher in the stratosphere, the temperature actually increases. This is because the stratosphere contains the ozone layer, which absorbs and filters out a large amount of the sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation. The absorption of UV radiation causes the temperature to rise in the stratosphere, making it hotter than the lower layers of the atmosphere.Rate this question:
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- 17.
What makes up less than 1% of the atmosphere?
- A.
Oxygen
- B.
Nitrogen
- C.
Carbon dioxide
- D.
Water vapor and other gases
Correct Answer
D. Water vapor and other gasesExplanation
Water vapor and other gases make up less than 1% of the atmosphere. The atmosphere is primarily composed of nitrogen (about 78%) and oxygen (about 21%). Carbon dioxide, although a greenhouse gas, only makes up a very small percentage of the atmosphere (about 0.04%). Water vapor and other gases, such as argon, neon, helium, and methane, make up the remaining fraction, which is less than 1%. These gases have a smaller presence in the atmosphere compared to nitrogen and oxygen.Rate this question:
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- 18.
What is the aurora borealis most commonly called
- A.
The northern lights
- B.
The southern radiation
- C.
The ionic particles
- D.
A rainbow
Correct Answer
A. The northern lightsExplanation
The aurora borealis is most commonly called the northern lights because it is a natural phenomenon that occurs in the northern hemisphere. It is caused by the interaction between charged particles from the sun and the Earth's magnetic field. This interaction creates colorful lights in the sky, usually in shades of green, pink, and purple. The term "northern lights" is widely used to describe this beautiful light display that can be seen in countries such as Norway, Sweden, and Canada.Rate this question:
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- 19.
What atmospheric layer has most of the clouds?
- A.
Thermosphere
- B.
Stratosphere
- C.
Troposphere
- D.
Mesosphere
Correct Answer
C. TroposphereExplanation
The troposphere is the atmospheric layer closest to the Earth's surface, extending up to about 10-15 kilometers. This layer is where most weather phenomena occur, including the formation of clouds. The troposphere is characterized by decreasing temperature with increasing altitude, which allows for the condensation of water vapor and the formation of clouds. Therefore, it is reasonable to conclude that the troposphere has the most clouds compared to the other atmospheric layers mentioned.Rate this question:
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- 20.
At what layer do most airplanes fly at the top of?
- A.
Stratosphere
- B.
Thermosphere
- C.
Mesosphere
- D.
Troposphere
Correct Answer
D. TroposphereExplanation
Most airplanes fly at the top of the troposphere. The troposphere is the lowest layer of the Earth's atmosphere, extending from the surface up to about 8-15 kilometers. It is where weather phenomena occur and contains the majority of the Earth's air mass. Airplanes typically fly within this layer because it provides the necessary air density for lift and propulsion. The other options (stratosphere, thermosphere, and mesosphere) are higher layers of the atmosphere where commercial airplanes do not typically operate.Rate this question:
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Mar 21, 2023Quiz Edited by
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Oct 12, 2015Quiz Created by
Summer Smith
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