The Greenhouse Effect
Learning Objective
I can explain how the greenhouse effect traps thermal energy converted from visible light.
Key Concepts
Gases absorb specific colors of light because each atom and molecule has a set number of possible energy levels for its electrons.
The Earth emits infrared radiation because every object with a temperature above absolute zero will emit light, also known as thermal radiation.
Carbon dioxide molecules absorb infrared photons and then emit a photon back out in a random direction, some of which returns to Earth's surface, causing warming.
Practice Questions
This lesson includes 12 practice questions to reinforce learning.
View questions preview
1. What type of electromagnetic radiation does the Earth primarily emit?
2. Explain why carbon dioxide in the atmosphere absorbs infrared light, but not visible light directly from the sun.
3. Describe the process by which a greenhouse gas molecule, like carbon dioxide, traps thermal energy.
...and 9 more questions
Educational Video
How quantum mechanics explains global warming - Lieven Scheire
TED-Ed