Questions: Why does the thermosphere have the highest temperature of all the atmosphere layers?
Transcript text: Why does the thermosphere have the highest temperature of all the atmosphere layers?
Solution
Solution Steps
Step 1: Understanding the Thermosphere
The thermosphere is one of the outermost layers of Earth's atmosphere. It is located above the mesosphere and below the exosphere.
Step 2: Analyzing the Options
Option A: The thermosphere is not the closest to Earth's surface; the troposphere is.
Option B: The thermosphere is directly exposed to the sun's radiation, which causes it to heat up significantly.
Option C: The thermosphere is not the thickest layer; the exosphere extends further.
Option D: The thermosphere does not have the most gas particles; the troposphere has a higher density of gas particles.
Step 3: Identifying the Correct Reason
The primary reason the thermosphere has the highest temperature is due to its direct exposure to the sun's radiation. The few gas particles present in this layer absorb high-energy ultraviolet and X-ray radiation from the sun, causing the temperature to rise significantly.