Environmental conditions, temperature, density, and pressure,
are continually changing.
STUDENT OBJECTIVE:
The student will observe through a demonstration that wind
and the direction of the wind will greatly effect rain (a
beach ball will be used for the rain.)
OVERVIEW:
In this activity, the student will use an electric fan as a
source of moving air and a beach ball to represent rain.
The fan will point upward and turned on. A beach ball is
placed over the moving air and released. The beach ball is
suspended in the air and when the air is decreased, the beach
ball then falls toward the fan or Earth.
The air above the fan is moving very quickly and has enough
force to lift the ball. The force of gravity prevents the
ball from rising very high. The force of air moving upward
at this speed tears apart large raindrops that are heavy
enough to fall, and the tiny droplets remain suspended in
the air.
ASSESSMENT: Can the student communicate what they observed?
4......Student is able to communicate clearly that the upward
air is moving very quickly and the force of gravity acts on the
rain drops to let them fall to the Earth. The beach ball
represents the rain and the moving fan represents the rapidly
moving air.
3......Student is able to communicate that the moving air breaks
up the rain drops and they fall at an angle to the ground.
2......Student is able to communicate that air moves raindrops.
1......Student is able to communicate that gravity forces
"things" to Earth, rain fall to Earth due to gravity.
