What Causes Wind?

MS-ESS2-5. - Collect data to provide evidence for how the motions and complex interactions of air masses results in changes in weather conditions.

Learning Target

Describe the relationships between air mass interactions and weather conditions.
Describe patterns in weather conditions in a specific area (e.g. temperature, air pressure, humidity, wind speed) over time.

Success Criteria

I can describe how pressure affects air movement.
I can describe how masses of air move.
I can predict how air masses of different temperature move.

Questions to Ponder

What causes the wind to blow?
What do you think high pressure and low pressure have to do with wind?
Are there any other factors that may be related to wind?

Lab

How does air move when pressure builds up?

To find out how air moves we will first conduct a quick experiment.

Materials

1 or 2 liter bottle
ball of paper crumpled up so it will fit in the neck of the bottle

Procedures

Place a 1 or 2 liter bottle on its side at the edge of a table with the open end facing toward you.
Place a small ball of crumpled paper in the neck of the bottle. The paper should be large enough to take up most of the space but small enough to be able to move freely.
Make a prediction. What do you think will happen when you blow on the paper ball? Explain your prediction. Use a diagram (labeled prediction) to show what you think will happen.
Try it! Blow on the paper ball and observe what happens. Try it several times.
What happened? Draw a new diagram (labeled results) to show what happened. Explain your results.

Check for Success...

After completing the bottle experiment check back with the success criteria. Where are you in your understanding?

Convection Observation

You will now watch a short video and make observations. Stop the video and make predictions about what will happen before they pour the red and blue food coloring into the tank. Once again, draw a diagram to show your prediction as well as the results.

Where is the greater pressure?

Fill a balloon with air but don't tie it off. Think about what's happening with the molecules of air.

Where will you find the greater pressure?
What happens if you let go of the opening?
Why does this happen?

Reasoning

Use this two column notes sheet to takes notes on What Causes Wind from the following videos.

Global Winds

In the next activity you will learn about the ways wind moves to create global patterns.

Learning Target

Describe patterns in weather conditions in a specific area (e.g. temperature, air pressure, humidity, wind speed) over time.

Success Criteria

I can observe winds at different altitudes.
I can describe the difference between surface and high-altitude winds.

Investigating the Jet Stream

Visit this site to begin an investigation of the Jet Stream.

Wonderopolis Article about the Jet Stream

Wind and the Earth's Rotation

Demonstrate Your Understanding

Imagine you live on the West coast of the United States and would like to visit the East Coast for a week and then return. You plan on flying both ways. Describe how the Jet Stream might affect your travel.

Demonstrate your understanding of the complications involved in your cross-country flight in a creative way:

You may create a...
- diagram
- skit
- slide show

Learning Targets

Describe patterns in weather conditions in a specific area (e.g. temperature, air pressure, humidity, wind speed) over time.

Success Criteria

I can describe how the Jet Stream might affect air travel.
I can demonstrate what I have learned about how wind is created
I can describe how global winds create wind patterns
I can state a Claim, and support it with Evidence and Reasoning

Meteorology