8th Grade Heat and Wind

University:
Virtual High School
Course:
STEM | Geography
Academic year:

2022
Views:

190

Pages:

2
Author:

Allioniy9p

Heat and Wind Sun and Convection: Heat is a form of energy. A fast-moving molecule is a hot molecule and a slow-moving molecule is a cold molecule. To heat something is to speed up its molecules. Heat can be transferred from object to object. Heat transfer is the movement of heat from hotter objects to colder objects through conduction, convection, and radiation. Winds and Air Pressure: The rays from the sun are a form of electromagnetic radiation. Electromagnetic radiation includes both visible and non-visible radiation (IR and UV radiation). This is the energy that makes the wind move. Newton's laws require that something starts moving because a force requiring energy acts upon it. In this case, the energy comes from the sun. Air is not warmed by the sun’s rays directly. It is warmed through conduction as it comes in contact with the ground or with water. Warm air is less dense than cold air. Since air is a gas, the warm air is pushed up by the cold air through convection. Convection causes warm air to rise and cold air to sink. When warm air rises, it creates a low-pressure area. When cool air sinks, it creates a high-pressure area. Air will always be pushed away from the high-pressure area towards the low-pressure area. This horizontal movement of air is called wind.