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Year 11
AQA
Foundation

Greenhouse gases

I can explain the effect of greenhouse gases on the temperature of Earth’s atmosphere.

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New
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Year 11
AQA
Foundation

Greenhouse gases

I can explain the effect of greenhouse gases on the temperature of Earth’s atmosphere.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Carbon dioxide and methane are common greenhouse gases.
  2. Greenhouse gases reduce the amount of lower-energy IR that can escape from Earth’s atmosphere.
  3. Greenhouse gases do not reduce the amount of higher-energy IR radiation entering the atmosphere from the Sun.
  4. If the rate energy is transferred into the atmosphere exceeds the rate it is transferred out, average temperatures rise.
  5. An increasing average temperature of Earth’s atmosphere is called global warming.

Keywords

  • Greenhouse gas - a gas that contributes to global warming by reducing the amount of radiation leaving Earth’s atmosphere

  • Infrared (IR) radiation - a type of electromagnetic radiation that we can feel as warmth on our skin

  • Carbon sink - a process or system that takes more carbon from the atmosphere than it releases

  • Global warming - increase in Earth’s global temperature, likely caused by more greenhouse gases in the atmosphere

Common misconception

All greenhouse gases are artificial and harmful. Increasing any greenhouse gas is bad.

Emphasise and explain the natural occurrence and necessity of greenhouse gases. Discuss the effect of human activity increasing amounts of greenhouse gases at a very fast rate.


To help you plan your year 11 combined science lesson on: Greenhouse gases, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

It would be good to emphasise that although methane is a much more potent greenhouse gas than CO₂ it does not remain very long in the atmosphere. Reducing CH₄ emissions would have a fast impact on minimising global warming, it would take longer to notice the impact of lowering CO₂ emissions.
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This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which of the following statements about complete combustion of hydrocarbon fuels is correct?
Complete combustion occurs when a fuel burns in a limited supply of oxygen.
Correct answer: Complete combustion occurs when a fuel burns in a plentiful supply of oxygen.
Correct answer: The products are carbon dioxide and water.
The products are carbon monoxide and water.
Q2.
Why is carbon dioxide considered an atmospheric pollutant?
it is an odourless, colourless toxic gas
it causes global dimming
Correct answer: it contributes to global warming
Q3.
Match the greenhouse gas to the correct molecular formula.
Correct Answer:methane,CH₄
tick

CH₄

Correct Answer:carbon dioxide,CO₂
tick

CO₂

Correct Answer:water vapour,H₂O
tick

H₂O

Q4.
What is the equation for photosynthesis?
Correct answer: carbon dioxide + water → glucose + oxygen
glucose + oxygen → carbon dioxide + water
methane + oxygen → carbon dioxide + water
Q5.
What impact may deforestation have on the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere?
Correct answer: the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere will increase
the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere will remain the same
the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere decrease
Q6.
What key term is used to describe the number of waves that pass a point per second?
Correct Answer: frequency

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which of the following are greenhouse gases?
Correct answer: methane
Correct answer: carbon dioxide
Correct answer: water vapour
nitrogen
sulfur dioxide
Q2.
Which of the following human activities have led to increased levels of greenhouse gases?
Correct answer: combustion of fossil fuels
photosynthesis
Correct answer: deforestation
Correct answer: cattle farming
Correct answer: landfill sites
Q3.
How does the infrared radiation emitted from Earth's surface differ from the infrared radiation emitted from the Sun?
on average, it has more energy
Correct answer: on average, it has less energy
it feels warmer on the skin
Correct answer: it feels cooler on the skin
Q4.
What do greenhouse gases do?
Correct answer: absorb lower-energy infrared radiation
absorb higher-energy infrared radiation
Correct answer: emit infrared radiation in all directions
reflect infrared radiation in one direction
Q5.
Which of the following statements about the greenhouse effect are correct?
Correct answer: it is mostly a natural phenomenom
it produces greenhouse gases
Correct answer: it maintains a warmer temperarure on Earth than there would be without it
it continuously increases Earth's temperature
Q6.
What key term is used to describe an increase in Earth's average temperature?
Correct Answer: global warming