Wind and Weather

Purpose: To determine how wind affects weather patterns

Materials

• lazy Susan or microwave turntable
• piece of cardboard, about 15 cm square
• scissors
• marker
• science journal

Procedure

1. Cut a circle out of the cardboard the size of the inside of the lazy Susan or microwave turntable.
2. Fold the circle in half.
3. Fold the circle in half again and place a dot where the two folds intersect. The dot represents the North Pole.
4. Tape the cardboard to the surface of the lazy Susan to keep the cardboard from slipping.
5. Place a penny to the right of the lazy Susan. See Diagram.
6. Hold the lazy Susan in place and draw a line freehand from the center point or "North Pole" towards the penny. This line represents the wind direction and is unaffected by the Earth's rotation.
7. Have a friend or parent turn the lazy Susan/microwave turntable counterclockwise at a steady speed while you concentrate on drawing a line freehand from the center of the cardboard towards the penny off to the right. This line represents the winds moving from the North Pole towards the equator.
8. Stop the turntable and observe the line you have drawn. Record your findings in the science journal.

Conclusion

1. Compare and contrast the first line to the second line.
2. What general statements can be made about the wind's path?
3. Does the wind's path really change? Why or why not?
4. Would air moving from the South Pole into the Southern Hemisphere move in the same direction? Explain.

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Answer Key

1. Compare and contrast the first line and the second line.

The line drawn freehand is relatively straight, in the direction of the penny, and off to the right of the lazy Susan/microwave table. The line that was drawn as the lazy Susan/microwave table was turned counterclockwise curves to the left.

2. If the line represented the wind, what general statements can be made about the wind's path?

The wind blows at an angle towards the equator because of the Earth's rotation.