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Year 11 - Science

Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere

Atmosphere and changing climate

Unit Summary

This unit explores the composition and evolution of Earth's atmosphere, evidence of climate change, and effects of pollutants like sulphur dioxide. It highlights scientific explanations, ethical considerations, risk evaluation, and the role of peer review in communication.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to explain how changing factors in the carbon cycle affects the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere over time.

Key Notes

  • The combustion of fossil fuels adds more carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.
  • Carbon dioxide added to the atmosphere in one place will, over time, spread throughout Earth's atmosphere.
  • Plants act as carbon sinks because, as they grow, they remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
  • The decomposition or combustion of plants returns the carbon they are storing into the atmosphere.
  • Human activity is adding carbon dioxide to the atmosphere more quickly than it is being removed by natural processes.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • atmosphere: a layer of gases that surrounds a planet, which may also contain particles of solids and liquids
  • carbon sink: a process or system that takes more carbon from the atmosphere than it releases
  • combustion: an exothermic chemical reaction in which a substance reacts with oxygen
  • decomposition: the breaking down of dead organic matter by microorganisms

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • Plants can absorb all of the carbon dioxide that human activity adds to the atmosphere.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Explain the scientific idea in this lesson using two key points.

The combustion of fossil fuels adds more carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide added to the atmosphere in one place will, over time, spread throughout Earth's atmosphere.

2. Define this scientific word and use it in context. 'atmosphere'

a layer of gases that surrounds a planet, which may also contain particles of solids and liquids. Include the word in a full scientific explanation, not as a single label.

3. Correct this common scientific misunderstanding.

Mistake: Plants can absorb all of the carbon dioxide that human activity adds to the atmosphere. Correction: Talk to the pupils about what happens to the carbon dioxide absorbed by plants so that they understand how the size and number of plants determine the maximum amount of carbon dioxide they can store.

More Lessons In This Unit

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