Grade 9 · Science · Earth and Space Science

9th grade The greenhouse effect worksheet

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The greenhouse effect

Grade 9 Science Worksheet - Building Confidence

NameDate

Circle the best answer.

Read this first
Use this
Sunlight arrows in, and infrared arrows going up, back down and out to space.
1.
What is the natural greenhouse effect, by Ari's reading (NASA)?
- Clouds reflect sunlight back down so each ray lands twice
- Gases store heat for good, so heat stops leaving Earth
- The ozone layer blocks most sunlight from reaching the ground
- Gases absorb heat from the ground and send some back down
2.
About what is Earth's average surface temperature with the natural greenhouse effect, by Bo's reading (NASA)?
- About 0 °C
- About 15 °C
- About 5,500 °C
- About 100 °C
3.
With no atmosphere, how would Earth's surface compare with today, by Kira's reading (NASA)?
- About the same, since the Sun alone sets the temperature
- More than 30 °C colder than today
- Warmer, since air blocks sunlight from the ground
- About 1 °C colder than today
4.
Which gases are transparent to outgoing thermal infrared, by Jun's reading (NASA)?
- Carbon dioxide and methane
- Oxygen and nitrogen
- Methane and water vapor
- Water vapor and carbon dioxide
5.
Which list names three greenhouse gases, by Luz's reading (NASA)?
Use the picture in question 4.
- Nitrogen, oxygen and carbon dioxide
- Helium, neon and oxygen
- Oxygen, nitrogen and argon in the air
- Water vapor, carbon dioxide and methane
6.
NASA names the atmosphere's most abundant greenhouse gas. Which is it, by Milo's reading?
Use the picture in question 4.
- Methane
- Nitrogen
- Oxygen
- Water vapor
Use this
Sunlight arrows in, and infrared arrows going up, back down and out to space.
7.
Sunlight arrives mostly as visible and near-infrared light. What does Earth's surface give off, by Noah's reading (NASA)?
- Thermal infrared (heat)
- Nothing, since the ground just absorbs light
- Ultraviolet light, brighter than sunlight
- Visible light, like the Sun gives off
8.
Why does Earth's surface give off infrared rather than visible light, by Pia's reading (NASA)?
- Its infrared is sunlight reflected off clouds
- It is far cooler than the Sun, about 15 °C
- Greenhouse gases paint the ground a darker color
- It is hotter than the surface of the Sun
9.
Which energy do greenhouse gases mostly absorb, by Ren's reading (NASA)?
- Most visible sunlight, before it reaches land
- Radio waves arriving from space
- Outgoing thermal infrared from the surface
- Sound waves rising from the ground

Energy flows as a share of incoming sunlight (NASA)

Flow	Share of incoming sunlight
Reflected to space	29%
Absorbed by the atmosphere	23%
Absorbed by the surface	48%
Infrared up from the surface	117%
Infrared back down to the surface	100%
Infrared from the surface straight to space	12%
Infrared from the atmosphere to space	59%

10.
Using the table, what share of incoming sunlight does Earth's surface absorb, by Tala's reading (NASA)?
- About 29%
- About 23%
- About 48%
- About 117%

9th grade The greenhouse effect worksheet – printable — Print: 1 2 3 4 5 6

About this worksheet

Explain how the greenhouse effect warms Earth. Every version has 10 questions, and the answer key prints on the second page.

What your child will learn

I can explain that sunlight arrives mostly as visible light, the surface gives off thermal infrared, and greenhouse gases absorb that infrared and radiate some back down.
I can name greenhouse gases (water vapor, CO₂, methane) and explain why nitrogen and oxygen are not, and how CO₂ partly closes the window near 10 micrometers.
I can read NASA's energy budget in percent of incoming sunlight and compute net and total flows.

Standard: HS-ESS2-4

Words to know

greenhouse gas: A gas that absorbs and gives off thermal infrared, like CO₂

thermal infrared: Heat energy radiated by warm surfaces, invisible to the eye

back radiation: Infrared the atmosphere radiates down to the surface

atmospheric window: Infrared wavelengths, near 10 micrometers, that water vapor lets escape

energy budget: How incoming sunlight is reflected, absorbed and radiated away

ppm / ppb: Parts per million / parts per billion of the air

Common mistakes

Your child mixed up incoming sunlight and outgoing infrared. NASA: sunlight arrives mostly as visible and near-infrared light; greenhouse gases absorb the thermal infrared the surface gives off.

Your child picked the wrong greenhouse gases. NASA: oxygen and nitrogen let infrared through; water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane and other trace gases absorb it.

Your child thought greenhouse gases trap or reflect heat. NASA: the molecules absorb infrared, warm up, and radiate it in all directions; some returns to the surface.

Questions parents ask

What is the most common mistake with the greenhouse effect?

Your child mixed up incoming sunlight and outgoing infrared. NASA: sunlight arrives mostly as visible and near-infrared light; greenhouse gases absorb the thermal infrared the surface gives off.

Are these 9th grade science worksheets free to print?

Yes. All 6 printable versions at each level are free to print, with the answer key, and no account is needed.

More earth and space science

See all Earth and Space Science

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