Download 4.H.3 Weather and Classical Instruments

Partnerships Implementing Engineering Education
Worcester Polytechnic Institute – Worcester Public Schools
Supported by: National Science Foundation
Weather: 4.H.3
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Weather and Classical Instruments
Grade Level
4
Sessions
Seasonality
Instructional Mode(s)
Team Size
WPS Benchmarks
45 min.
N/A
Whole class
N/A
04.SC.ES.01
04.SC.ES.07
04.SC.ES.08
3-5.ES.6
3-5.ES.8
Meteorologist, Atmosphere, Weather, Instrument, Component
MA Frameworks
Key Words
Summary
This session is aimed to help the students understand the components of weather and
how we measure the components. The teacher will present a lecture of what the
weather consists of and what instruments may be used to determine the different levels
of this weather.
Learning Objectives
2002 Worcester Public Schools (WPS) Benchmarks for Grade 4
04.SC.ES.01 Describe how global patterns such as the jet stream and water currents
influence local weather in measurable terms such as temperature, wind direction and
speed, and precipitation.
04.SC.ES.07 Explain how air temperature, moisture, wind speed and direction, and
precipitation make up the weather in a particular place and time.
04.SC.ES.08 Use a collection of classical (not digital) weather instruments that clearly
shows the physical principle that makes them work.
Additional Learning Objectives
1. Explain how air temperature, moisture, wind speed and direction, and
precipitation make up the weather in a particular place and time.
2. Describe how global patterns such as the jet stream and water currents influence
local weather in measurable terms such as temperature, wind direction and
speed, and precipitation.
1 of 14
Partnerships Implementing Engineering Education
Worcester Polytechnic Institute – Worcester Public Schools
Supported by: National Science Foundation
Required Background Knowledge
None
Essential Questions
1. What is weather?
Introduction / Motivation
None
Procedure
The instructor will:
1. Ask students what weather is and have them write their ideas in their journal.
2. Give them to correct definition of weather and have them write it down.
3. Go over the components that make up weather. (See attachment)
4. Explain that a weather instrument measures each component.
5. Show transparencies of classical weather instruments and explain how each
works. (See attachments)
Materials List
Materials per Class
None
Amount
None
Location
None
Vocabulary with Definitions (in alphabetical order)
1. Meteorologist – Meteorologist: a person who studies the earths atmosphere
and weather conditions.
2. Atmosphere – Atmosphere: A layer of gases surrounding a planet
3. Weather – Weather: It describes the condition of the air at a particular time
and place. Weather also tells how the air moves (wind) and describes
anything it might be carrying such as rain, snow or clouds. Thunder, lightning,
rainbows, haze and other special events are all part of weather.
4. Instrument – Instrument: a device that is used to make measurements of
something
5. Component – Component: one piece of a larger system
2 of 14
Partnerships Implementing Engineering Education
Worcester Polytechnic Institute – Worcester Public Schools
Supported by: National Science Foundation
Assessment / Evaluation of Students
The instructor may assess the students in any/all of the following manners:
1. None
Lesson Extensions
None
Attachments
1. Components of Weather
2. Weather Instruments (pictures for transparencies)
Troubleshooting Tips
None
Safety Issues
None
Additional Resources
None
Key Words
Meteorologist, Atmosphere, Weather, Instrument, Component
3 of 14
Components of Weather
Note: This is intended for the teacher to teach, not as vocabulary words.
Depending on where you look for information, weather is classified by the first 4
components or by all 6.
INTRODUCTION
Weather happens every day. But what exactly is weather? Weather is made up of many parts. One
part is temperature. Temperature is how hot or cold the air is. Another part of weather is
precipitation. Precipitation is water that falls from the sky to Earth. The water can be a liquid. It can
be a solid. Or it can be a mixture of the two. Rain, snow, sleet, and hail are types of precipitation. A
third part of weather is wind. Wind can be a gentle breeze. It can also be a strong tornado. All of
these parts are affected by air pressure. Air pressure is the fourth major part of weather. As the
phrase implies, air pressure is the pressure that air exerts on Earth's surface.
TEMPERATURE
The measurement of how hot or cold something is.
Atmospheric temperature can be affected by sunlight, wind, latitude, altitude, and the land surface.
Temperature can also be affected by surface reflections. Heat is a form of energy caused by the internal
motion of molecules. The slower the molecules are moving, the less heat is present. Temperature is a
measure of heat energy in a substance
WIND
- The movement of air relative to the surface of the earth. It’s considered to be severe if 58 m.p.h.
or greater. Hurricane winds are 74 m.p.h or greater and the highest tornado winds are about 318
m.p.h.
Winds are created when there are differences in air pressure from one area to another. In an area
where there is low-pressure (rising air), air at ground level comes in to replace the air that is rising.
In areas of high-pressure (sinking air), air at ground level spreads out.
If a high and low pressure area are close to each other a strong wind will develop, because a
natural circulation of air will occur (see diagram below.) The greater the difference in pressure is,
the stronger the wind.
Winds can be produced in a localized area, to expanses of several hundred miles. An example of a
local wind is a land-sea breeze. During the day, land will heat up faster than water, which makes
air rise over the land – a low-pressure area is formed. Since the water is cooler, there is higher air
pressure over the water. Air from over the water comes inland to replace the rising air, making a
sea breeze. At night, things are reversed – the land cools down quickly, while the water stays
warmer. High pressure is formed over the land and low-pressure forms over the water, so air flows
offshore. This is called a land breeze.
PRECIPITATION
The General name for water in any form falling from clouds. This includes rain, drizzle, hail, snow and sleet.
Although, dew, frost and fog are not considered to be precipitation. ( we will study this in detail is session 2)
AIR PRESSURE
The weight of air pressing down on earth. Air pressure can change from place to place, and this causes air to
move, flowing from areas of high pressure toward areas of low pressure. It’s the same as barometric
pressure.
HUMIDITY
The amount of water vapor in the air (water vapor is a gas in the atmosphere. There is very little of it in the
air. Water vapor is only 1 to 4% of the atmosphere, but without it we would have no clouds, rain, or snow.
Water vapor is one of the greenhouse gases, which help to trap the earth's heat).
CLOUDS
A visible collection of tiny water droplets or, at colder temperatures, ice crystals floating in the air above the
surface. Clouds come in many different sizes and shapes. Clouds can form at ground level, which is fog, at
great heights in the atmosphere, and everywhere in between. Clouds offer important clues to understanding
and forecasting the weather. Clouds not only provide rain and snow, but help retain heat, so it does not all
escape into space.
Weather Instruments
Barometer:
Definition:
The aneroid barometer is an instrument that measures the pressure of the air.
How it works:
The atmospheric pressure changes as the weather changes. It goes up and down. We say the pressure is
rising, is falling, or is steady. An aneroid barometer works with a small capsule that acts like a bellows. Air
has been removed from the capsule. When the air pressure increases, the sides of the capsule are pushed in
and the connected needle rises (clockwise). If the air pressure decreases or falls, the sides of the small
capsule puff out and the needle moves in the counter clockwise direction. The numbers are based on the
principle that atmospheric pressure supports 30 inches of mercury in a tube of mercury with one end sealed.
What it tells us:
When the air is dry, cool, and pleasant, the mercury or barometer reading rises. When the air is warm and
wet, the barometer reading falls. When the air pressure falls, it usually indicates some type of storm or wet
weather is coming. When it rises, it often means clear weather. If the barometer remains steady, there will
be no immediate change in the weather. The more rapid the change, the sooner the weather will change. A
change of even one-tenth of an inch is a significant change.
Anemometer
Definition:
The anemometer measures wing speed
How it works:
There is a free moving turbine suspended in the middle of the anemometer. This turbine, when
held correctly, moves at the speed of the wind. The speed of the turbine is sensed by an infrared
light that relays the signal to an electrical circuit that digitally displays it.
What it tells us:
The electronic model can accurately show the speed of the wind in miles per hour or knots.
Force
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Speed mph
1
3
7
11
19
24
31
38
46
54
63
73
74+
Describe
Calm
Light breeze
Light air
Gentle breeze
Moderate breeze
Fresh breeze
Strong breeze
Moderate gale
Fresh gale
Strong Gale
Gale
Storm
Hurricane
Effect
Smoke straight up
Smoke slightly bent
Leaves rustle
Leaves move
Small branches move
Small trees sway
Large branches move
Whole trees move
Twigs break off
Roofs damged
Trees uprooted
Widespread damage
Widespread destruction
Rain Gauge
Definition:
The rain gauge measures the amount of liquid precipitation that falls.
How it works:
The rain gauge has an outer cylinder, a measuring tube, and a funnel. The measuring tube
measures to a hundredth inch. When it is full, it contains one inch of rain. When more than an
inch falls, the extra flows into the outer cylinder. By carefully pouring the rain from the outer
cylinder back into the measuring tube, a total rainfall amount can be accurately measured.
What it tells us:
It measures the total rainfall in a specific area.
Hygrometer
Definition:
The mechanism in a hygrometer measures the amount of moisture in the air (humidity).
How it works:
The hygrometer contains a humidity sensitive element that absorbs and disperses the humidity
(moisture) in the air around it. In this case, the element is a small spiral floating in fluid. The spiral
winds and unwinds as the moisture from the surrounding air is absorbed or released. This motion
is transferred to the indicator hand, which moves on the reading surface. It takes approximately
four hours in a fairly windless atmosphere for the indicator to relate the change in humidity level.
What it tells us:
It tells us the relative humidity (The ratio of water vapor in the air to the maximum amount of vapor
the air can hold at a given temperature and pressure; the "wetter or damper" the air feels the
higher the relative humidity. The drier the air feels the lower the relative humidity.)
Thermometer
Definition:
A thermometer is an instrument used for measuring temperature.
How it works:
Bulb thermometers rely on the simple principle that a liquid changes its volume relative to its
temperature. Liquids take up less space when they are cold and more space when they are warm.
When you look at a regular outside bulb thermometer, you'
ll see a thin red or silver line that grows
longer when it is hotter. The line goes down in cold weather.
This liquid is sometimes colored alcohol but can also be a metallic liquid called mercury. Both mercury and
alcohol grow bigger when heated and smaller when cooled. Inside the glass tube of a thermometer, the liquid
has no place to go but up when the temperature is hot and down when the temperature is cold.
What it tells us:
The temperature can be read by looking at the numbers on the tube that corresponds to the height of the line.
Barometer
Anemometer
Rain Gauge
Hygrometer
Thermometer