Question

when infrared radiation is absorbed by a greenhouse gas molecule, the molecule gains energy that is stored for a very short time. the molecule then releases the energy as infrared radiation. the infrared radiation released by the greenhouse gas molecules may escape into outer space. this radiation is shown below by the small red arrows pointing outside the atmosphere. some infrared radiation may also be absorbed and released many more times by other greenhouse gas molecules and by earths surface. this radiation is shown below by the small red arrows pointing back towards earth. because this infrared radiation is trapped near earths surface, the average temperature of earths surface is warmer than it would be if all the infrared radiation escaped into space. image of earth, sun, and greenhouse gas molecules with radiation arrows based on the information above, which of the following statements are true? select all that apply. greenhouse gas molecules gain energy after absorbing infrared radiation. earths average temperature is colder than it would be if earths atmosphere did not contain any greenhouse gases. greenhouse gas molecules absorb and release infrared radiation. once infrared radiation is absorbed by a greenhouse gas molecule, the infrared radiation can never leave earths atmosphere.

Explanation:

1. For "Greenhouse gas molecules gain energy after absorbing infrared radiation": The text says "When infrared radiation is absorbed by a greenhouse gas molecule, the molecule gains energy", so this is true.
2. For "Earth’s average temperature is colder than it would be if Earth’s atmosphere did not contain any greenhouse gases": The text states "the average temperature of Earth’s surface is warmer than it would be if all the infrared radiation escaped into space" (greenhouse gases trap radiation to warm the surface), so without them, the temperature would be colder? No, wait—if greenhouse gases trap radiation, the surface is warmer with them. So this statement is false (the original check here is incorrect).
3. For "Greenhouse gas molecules absorb and release infrared radiation": The text says they absorb, then release the energy as infrared radiation, so this is true.
4. For "Once infrared radiation is absorbed by a greenhouse gas molecule, the infrared radiation can never leave Earth’s atmosphere": The text says "The infrared radiation released by the greenhouse gas molecules may escape into outer space", so this is false (the original check here is incorrect).

Correct true statements:

• Greenhouse gas molecules gain energy after absorbing infrared radiation.
• Greenhouse gas molecules absorb and release infrared radiation.

(Note: The second statement is false because greenhouse gases warm the Earth, so without them, Earth would be colder? Wait, no—wait the text says "the average temperature of Earth’s surface is warmer than it would be if all the infrared radiation escaped into space". So if there are no greenhouse gases, more radiation escapes, so Earth is colder. Wait, the statement says "Earth’s average temperature is colder than it would be if Earth’s atmosphere did not contain any greenhouse gases"—so if there are no greenhouse gases, Earth is colder, so with greenhouse gases, Earth is warmer. So the statement is saying Earth's temp is colder (with greenhouse gases) than without? No, that's the opposite. So that statement is false. The fourth statement is false because radiation can escape. So the correct true ones are the first and third, and let's re - evaluate:

1. "Greenhouse gas molecules gain energy after absorbing infrared radiation": True (from "When infrared radiation is absorbed... the molecule gains energy").
2. "Earth’s average temperature is colder... without any greenhouse gases": False. Because with greenhouse gases, radiation is trapped, so Earth is warmer. So without them, it's colder. So the statement is saying Earth is colder (with greenhouse gases) than without, which is wrong.
3. "Greenhouse gas molecules absorb and release infrared radiation": True (absorb infrared, then release it as infrared radiation).
4. "Once infrared radiation is absorbed... can never leave": False (some radiation escapes to outer space).

So the correct true statements are:

• Greenhouse gas molecules gain energy after absorbing infrared radiation.
• Greenhouse gas molecules absorb and release infrared radiation.

Answer:

• Greenhouse gas molecules gain energy after absorbing infrared radiation.
• Greenhouse gas molecules absorb and release infrared radiation.