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10/29/2014 Atmospheric Pressure: The force exerted by the weight of air

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Feeling Pressured?
Air pressure is the force exerted on you by the weight
of tiny particles of air (air molecules). Although air
molecules are invisible, they still have weight and take
up space. Since there's a lot of "empty" space between
air molecules, air can be compressed to fit in a smaller
volume.
When it's compressed, air is said to be "under high
pressure". Air at sea level is what we're used to, in fact,
we're so used to it that we forget we're actually feeling
air pressure all the time!
Weather forecasters measure air pressure with a
barometer. Barometers are used to measure the current
air pressure at a particular location in "inches of
mercury" or in "millibars" (mb). A measurement of
29.92 inches of mercury is equivalent to 1013.25 millibars.
How much pressure are you under? Earth's atmosphere is pressing against
each square inch of you with a force of 1 kilogram per square centimeter (14.7
pounds per square inch). The force on 1,000 square centimeters (a little larger
than a square foot) is about a ton!
Why doesn't all that pressure squash me? Remember that you have air inside
your body too, that air balances out the pressure outside so you stay nice and firm
and not squishy.
Run for Cover! Air pressure can tell us about what kind of weather to expect as
well. If a high pressure system is on its way, often you can expect cooler
temperatures and clear skies. If a low pressure system is coming, then look for
warmer weather, storms and rain.
Control the weather! Use a special JavaScript barometer designed to
demonstrate how air pressure and weather conditions are linked. You will also
find instructions on how to build your own barometer!
Earth Science Spin Find out how air affects a baseball game!
What Happens if Air Pressure Changes?
Why do my ears pop? If you've ever been to the top of a tall mountain, you may
have noticed that your ears pop and you need to breathe more often than when
you're at sea level. As the number of molecules of air around you decreases, the
air pressure decreases. This causes your ears to pop in order to balance the
pressure between the outside and inside of your ear. Since you are breathing
fewer molecules of oxygen, you need to breathe faster to bring the few molecules
there are into your lungs to make up for the deficit.
Air Pressure Experiments
1. While holding your hand on your
ribs, take a deep breath and observe
what happens to your chest. Did you
feel it expand? Did you see it expand?
How would you explain what
happened? (Results)
2. Blow up a balloon and observe what
happens. Does it expand? Why does it
make a noise when it's popped?
(Results)
3. Ask your parents for an empty plastic
gallon milk jug with a screw top. Fill
it about a quarter of the way full with
very hot water. Cap it tightly and let it
stand for about an hour. What did you
expect to happen? What did happen?
(Results)
Air Pressure
Word Search
Find the hidden air pressure terms in this
word search game. This game requires
Java-enabled browsers.
Take a Balloon Ride!
Control a balloon as it rises to 10,000
meters (6 miles) and see what happens!
Can you guess what will happen as the
balloon goes higher? (JavaScript
Required.)
Discussion Questions:
1. If you were on a mountain, would the
weight of the air above you (air
pressure) be greater than or less than
10/29/2014 Atmospheric Pressure: The force exerted by the weight of air
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As you climb higher, air temperature decreases. Typically, air temperatures
decrease about 3.6 F per 1,000 feet of elevation.
Do you think a decrease in temperature could be explained in terms of air
pressure? How?
it is now?
2. What do you think causes wind?
3. If you lived in Kansas and observed a
sudden drop in air pressure, what kind
of weather would you expect to see
soon?
4. Why do hot air balloons rise?
5. Air weighs less than water, would
you expect the pressure exerted by
water to be greater or less than the
pressure exerted by the same amount
of air?
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