Greenhouse effect worksheet - Free Printable

Let's solve this step by step.

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Part 1: Match the two columns to make correct sentences

We have two columns:

Left Column (Start of sentence):
1. When we talk about the greenhouse effect, ...
2. The Sun's radiation enters the Earth's atmosphere and...
3. Gases in the atmosphere, such as carbon dioxide and ozone...
4. This causes what scientists call...

Right Column (End of sentence):
A. ...heats up the Earth’s surface.
B. ...“global warming”.
C. ...we mean the planet is working like a greenhouse.
D. ...don’t allow the heat to escape.

Now let’s match them logically:

1. When we talk about the greenhouse effect, ... → ...we mean the planet is working like a greenhouse.
✔ This defines the term "greenhouse effect".

2. The Sun's radiation enters the Earth's atmosphere and... → ...heats up the Earth’s surface.
✔ Solar radiation warms the Earth's surface.

3. Gases in the atmosphere, such as carbon dioxide and ozone... → ...don’t allow the heat to escape.
✔ These are greenhouse gases that trap heat.

4. This causes what scientists call... → ...“global warming”.
✔ The result of trapped heat is global warming.

✔ Final Matches:
- 1 → C
- 2 → A
- 3 → D
- 4 → B

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Part 2: Complete the diagram

We are given these labels:
- Sun
- gases
- heat
- atmosphere
- Sun’s radiation
- Earth’s surface
- infra-red radiation

Now let’s analyze the diagram:

1. Top left (Sun): The bright yellow object is the Sun.
2. Yellow arrow from Sun: This represents Sun’s radiation.
3. Arrow hits Earth: It reaches the Earth’s surface.
4. Red arrow going upward from Earth: This is infra-red radiation (heat emitted by Earth).
5. Clouds and surrounding layer: This is the atmosphere, which contains gases.
6. Orange arrow bouncing back: This shows the gases in the atmosphere trapping the heat.
7. Heat being retained: The heat is being kept near the Earth.

Now fill in the blanks in the diagram:

- Top box (Sun) → Sun
- Yellow arrow label → Sun’s radiation
- Where the yellow arrow hits Earth → Earth’s surface
- Red arrow going up from Earth → infra-red radiation
- Box near clouds (around Earth) → atmosphere
- Box near cloud with arrows bending → gases
- Orange arrow pointing back down → heat

So the completed diagram should have:

| Box Location | Label |
|--------------|-------|
| Top (Sun) | Sun |
| Yellow arrow | Sun’s radiation |
| Where it hits Earth | Earth’s surface |
| Red arrow from Earth | infra-red radiation |
| Cloud layer around Earth | atmosphere |
| Near cloud (trapping heat) | gases |
| Orange arrow returning | heat |

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✔ Final Answer Summary

#### Matching Sentences:

1. When we talk about the greenhouse effect, we mean the planet is working like a greenhouse.
2. The Sun's radiation enters the Earth's atmosphere and heats up the Earth’s surface.
3. Gases in the atmosphere, such as carbon dioxide and ozone don’t allow the heat to escape.
4. This causes what scientists call “global warming”.

#### Diagram Labels (from top to bottom / left to right):

- Sun (top)
- Sun’s radiation (yellow arrow)
- Earth’s surface (where arrow hits Earth)
- infra-red radiation (red arrow up)
- atmosphere (cloud layer)
- gases (near cloud trapping heat)
- heat (orange arrow returning)

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This explains how the greenhouse effect works:
Sunlight → heats Earth → Earth emits infrared radiation → greenhouse gases trap it → heat stays → global warming.