Year 7 - Science
The greenhouse effect
Climate change and living sustainably
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
This unit introduces the greenhouse effect, global warming and the impact of climate change on weather events. It explores some actions that can be taken to use resources, and to live, in a sustainable way.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to explain what causes Earth's greenhouse effect and why it affects global temperature.
Key Notes
- A gardener can use a greenhouse to keep plants warm.
- A greenhouse maintains the optimal temperature range for the growth and survival of the plants.
- A natural greenhouse effect maintains optimal temperature range for life on Earth.
- Greenhouse gases in Earth's atmosphere cause the natural greenhouse effect.
- Human activities are increasing the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, increasing the greenhouse effect.
Vocabulary To Learn
- greenhouse effect: the effect of some gases in the atmosphere that keep Earth's surface warmer than it would be without them
- atmosphere: the layer of gases that surrounds a planet
- greenhouse gases: gases in the atmosphere that keep it warmer than it would be without them
- emissions: releases of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Thinking that the atmosphere acts like a greenhouse by presenting a wall (like glass) that traps heat.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the scientific idea in this lesson using two key points.
A gardener can use a greenhouse to keep plants warm. A greenhouse maintains the optimal temperature range for the growth and survival of the plants.
2. Define this scientific word and use it in context. 'greenhouse effect'
the effect of some gases in the atmosphere that keep Earth's surface warmer than it would be without them. Include the word in a full scientific explanation, not as a single label.
3. Correct this common scientific misunderstanding.
Mistake: Thinking that the atmosphere acts like a greenhouse by presenting a wall (like glass) that traps heat. Correction: Heat is not a substance that can be trapped. This lesson explores the role of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, which keep the atmosphere warmer than it would be when it is heated by the Sun. This increases the surface temperature of Earth.
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