Pratik was making a chart on the atmosphere as a part of his school project. He noted down some statements.
Identify the incorrect statement.
1. The ozone layer in the Earth's atmosphere protects us from the harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays emitted by the Sun.
2. Space shuttles orbit in the troposphere.
3. The atmosphere helps in maintaining the temperature on the Earth's surface by trapping the heat.
4. The exosphere is the first layer of the atmosphere which starts at the surface of the Earth.
5. Meteoroids burn out in the mesosphere so they do not crash into the Earth's surface.
Answer (2)
To identify the incorrect statement, let's examine each one:
The ozone layer in the Earth's atmosphere protects us from the harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays emitted by the Sun.
This statement is correct. The ozone layer, located in the stratosphere, absorbs the majority of the Sun's harmful ultraviolet radiation, protecting living organisms on Earth.
Space shuttles orbit in the troposphere.
This statement is incorrect. Space shuttles orbit in the thermosphere, not the troposphere. The troposphere is the lowest layer of Earth's atmosphere where weather occurs, and it extends up to about 8-15 kilometers (5-9 miles) above the Earth's surface. Space shuttles fly much higher, usually in low Earth orbit, which is above the troposphere, in the thermosphere.
The atmosphere helps in maintaining the temperature on the Earth's surface by trapping the heat.
This statement is correct. The Earth's atmosphere contains greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane, which trap heat and help maintain the planet's temperature, a process known as the greenhouse effect.
The exosphere is the first layer of the atmosphere which starts at the surface of the Earth.
This statement is incorrect. The exosphere is actually the outermost layer of Earth's atmosphere, far above the Earth's surface. The first layer starting from the Earth's surface is the troposphere.
Meteoroids burn out in the mesosphere so they do not crash into the Earth's surface.
This statement is correct. The mesosphere is where most meteoroids burn up upon entering the Earth's atmosphere, due to friction with the air, which prevents them from reaching the Earth's surface.
Therefore, the incorrect statement is number 2: Space shuttles orbit in the troposphere.
The incorrect statement is number 2: Space shuttles orbit in the troposphere, which is not true as they actually orbit in the thermosphere. The troposphere is the lowest layer of the atmosphere, while space shuttles operate much higher up. Other statements provided about the atmosphere are correct.
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