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Laabri

GCSE Atmosphere questions 2025-2026

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Last updated 20 days ago
39 Nsɛmmisa
The present day earth
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1
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3
1
1
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1
1
The early atmosphere
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1
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1
Evolution of the atmosphere time line
9
4
1
5
7
3
4
6
The evolution of the atmosphere
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3
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2
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Asemmisa {{asɛmmisaAhyɛnsode}}
1.

Who is your teacher?

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2.

The diagram shows the three main layers of the Earth.

9.1 The middle layer is called the...

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3.

The inner part of the inner layer (core) is...

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4.

The mean (average) density of the rocks in the Earth's crust is 2.8 grams per cm³. The overall density of the Earth is 5.5 grams per cm³. This suggests that:

Asemmisa {{asɛmmisaAhyɛnsode}}
5.

You need to have a sketch of this in your notes.

Mmuae Afoforo a Wobɛpaw:

O2 21%

Ar and other gases (0.03%CO2)

N2 79%

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6.

The present-day atmosphere is made up mainly of:

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7.

10.4 In the present-day atmosphere, the proportions of oxygen and nitrogen are:

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8.

Identify gas Z

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9.

Match the gas to its approximate percentage in Earth's modern atmosphere.

Draggable itemarrow_right_altCorresponding Item

Nitrogen

arrow_right_alt

21%

Oxygen

arrow_right_alt

0.93%

Carbon dioxide

arrow_right_alt

78%

Argon

arrow_right_alt

0.03

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10.

Planet

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11.

The Earth's early atmosphere was similar to the atmosphere of Venus today. The main gas forming this atmosphere was:

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12.

Most of the gas which formed this early atmosphere came from:

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13.

The other gases making up this early atmosphere were:

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14.

Match the letter to the number

Draggable itemarrow_right_altCorresponding Item

B

arrow_right_alt

1

A

arrow_right_alt

4

D

arrow_right_alt

3

C

arrow_right_alt

2

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15.

Which gas makes up 21%

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16.

Volcanic activity

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17.

Create a time line for the evolution of the atmosphere giving the events and the changes in composition.

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18.

Atmosphere timeline

  1. The pre-industrial modern atmosphere occurs then burning of fossil fuels increases carbon dioxide levels.

  2. The earth cools and water condenses to form the oceans so CO2 dissolves in the oceans.

  3. Volcanoes release CO2, water vapour and ammonia to form the early atmosphere.

  4. Green plants evolve and photosynthesise Carbon dioxide levels decrease and oxygen levels increase.

Asemmisa {{asɛmmisaAhyɛnsode}}
19.

Years ago carbon dioxide got ‘locked up’ in rock which had formed

from the remains of shellfish.

The carbon dioxide also reacted with sea water to produce insoluble

carbonates which formed as well as soluble magnesium hydrogencarbonate and calcium hydrogencarbonate that in the oceans .

Carbon dioxide was taken in during in green pants ended up as the carbon in fuels.

Mmuae Afoforo a Wobɛpaw:
dissolved

limestone

sediment

fossil

photosynthesis

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20.

NOW

Animals and humans produce carbon dioxide through

Plants help in removing carbon dioxide through .

This process isn’t enough to balance the extra carbon dioxide produced by the

burning of fuels.

The extra carbon dioxide contributes to global as a gas.

Mmuae Afoforo a Wobɛpaw:

respiration

greenhouse

fossil

warming

photosynthesis

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21.

The early atmosphere was made up of mainly carbon dioxide, water vapour and small amounts of methane, ammonia and nitrogen, released by volcanic .

There was little or no oxygen around at this time. The early Earth was very hot, but as it cooled the water vapour in the atmosphere and formed the oceans.

As the oceans formed, carbon dioxide in the ocean.

The carbon dioxide formed carbonates and out (formed solids).

This process reduced the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Mmuae Afoforo a Wobɛpaw:
condensed
eruptions
dissolved
precipitated
Asemmisa {{asɛmmisaAhyɛnsode}}
22.

Approximately 2.7 billion years ago, plants and algae evolved. This decreased the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and increased the amount of oxygen in the atmosphere due to .

When sea animals evolved they used the carbon dioxide in the ocean to form their shells and bones (which are made of carbonates). When these sea creatures died their shells and bones became (calcium carbonate), which is a sedimentary rock.

Once enough oxygen was in the atmosphere, it could support animals, which carry out . These processes have caused the levels of gases in the atmosphere to be where they are today.

Mmuae Afoforo a Wobɛpaw:
eruptions
limestone
photosynthesis
respiration
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23.

6 mark question to use to make a model answer.

Overall trend from 4 billion years ago to the present day

oxygen has overall

carbon dioxide has overall

water vapour has overall

(Note over the last 500 years carbon dioxide has slightly

Mmuae Afoforo a Wobɛpaw:
decreased
increased
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24.

6 mark question to use to make a model answer.

water vapour to form the oceans

Oxygen increased due to .

carbon dioxide decreased due to

carbon dioxide in the oceans

carbon dioxide formed sedimentary rocks ( )

carbon dioxide formed fuels

In the last 500 years carbon dioxide increased by human activity such as of fossil fuels and cutting down trees.

Mmuae Afoforo a Wobɛpaw:

condensed

photosynthesis
fossil
dissolved
limestone
burning
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25.

The composition of the Earth's atmosphere has changed since it was first formed. The most significant source of carbon dioxide in Earth's early atmosphere was:

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26.

The main reason for the increase in atmospheric oxygen was:

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27.

The amount of carbon dioxide was gradually reduced because of:

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28.

Draggable itemarrow_right_altCorresponding Item

nitrogen

arrow_right_alt

3

ammonia

arrow_right_alt

2

ozone

arrow_right_alt

4

methane

arrow_right_alt

1

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29.

Fossil fuels and carbonate rocks

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30.

Actions of plants

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31.

Which gas makes up most of the trace gasses

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32.

Which gas makes up most 0.03% of the air

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33.

The gases in the early atmosphere were caused by ___________________ eruptions

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34.

Which two planets the solar system have atmospheres that are similar to the early earth atmosphere?

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35.

The Earth’s early atmosphere was thought to contain

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36.

Which gas condensed to form the oceans as the crust cooled

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37.

Which of the following caused the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to decrease

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38.

The growth of primitive plants used carbon dioxide and released oxygen by __________________ and consequently the amount of oxygen in the atmosphere gradually increased

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39.

As the amount of fossil fuels that have been used increased the percentage of CO₂ in the atmosphere has