Forces in the Atmosphere
Introduction
Forces cause the motion of air, producing winds and changes of weather. The purpose of this module is to understand these forces: what causes them, how they tend to balance each other, and how they produce the wind. Additionally, understanding atmospheric forces will allow you to discover additional, fundamental facts about the structure of the atmosphere and the close relationships among temperature, pressure, and wind.
Learning Objectives
- Review Newton's First Law (understand that without any forces, objects will remain in motion)
- Review Newton's Second Law (understand that forces cause acceleration)
- Learn the concept of an "air parcel"
- Understand what happens when two or more forces are acting at the same time
- Learn the names of the important forces in the atmosphere
- Learn what causes each of these forces
Table of Contents