How do Different Temperatures Affect Air Masses?

MS-ESS2-4. - Develop a model to describe the cycling of water through Earth's systems driven by energy from the sun and the force of gravity.

Students will investigate changes in density due to the heating and cooling of gases.
Students will use a model to observe what happens to the air (smoke) when part of the box is heated and there is cooler air on the other side.

I can analyze results from a physical model to explain why hot air rises and cold air sinks.
I can construct and defend a model that explains why hot air rises and cold air sinks.
I can apply a model to explain one cause of wind.

Questions to Ponder

What do you think would happen if a mass of cold air and hot air were next to each other?
How could you investigate this question?
What problems might you have in figuring out what is happening with the air?

In this lab we will investigate what happens when different temperature air masses are next to each other.
We will pour hot and cold liquid that has been dyed with red and blue food coloring into opposite sides of a container with water to represent the atmosphere.

What do you think will happen when hot and cold air masses are next to each other?

What do you think will happen when the differnt colors are poured into the container and why do you think it will happen?

Materials

Procedures

Fill the container 3/4 full with water from the sink.
You will pour the red dyed water into one side of the tank and blue in the opposite side at the same time. You will observe what happens for 10 minutes. Before you do that, as a team, create a data table to gather evidence about what will happen.
Pour the red dyed water into one side of the tank and blue in the opposite side at the same time and observe for 10 minutes while you collect data.
Analyze your data. Make sure that everyone has the same data on their data table.
Go back to your hypothesis and discuss the results compared to your predictions.

Based on what you saw in this experiment, what do you think is happening with matter and energy?
Describe the movement of the atoms and molecules.
How does this experiment explain what happens when two air masses of different temperatures are next to each other

In your science notebook, describe the experiment including your prediction, the results, and your explanation as to why things happened the way they did.

Meteorology