Pressure Systems
What is pressure?
The force or weight pushing on a surface by air or fluid.
What is it called when particles are pushed closer together or forced into a smaller space?
Compression
What are isobars?
Lines on a weather map connecting points of equal air pressure.
What is equilibrium?
A balanced state of pressure. When air flows from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure until they become balanced.
Tool that measures air pressure
barometer
Force/weight of air pushing in all directions
Atmospheric Pressure
What do close isobars mean?
Strong winds or big pressure changes
Air moves from areas of ____ pressure to ____ pressure
High to low
What is air pressure measured in?
Millibars or Bars
A space with no matter
Vacuum
What do far apart isobars mean?
Calm winds or steady weather
What happens to air pressure when it reaches equilibrium?
There is no movement of air, the pressure remains constant.
True or False: Air pressure increases as elevation increases.
False - it decreases
Energy of motion
Kinetic energy
What type of weather comes with high pressure?
Clear and dry.
Air flowing from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure creates what in nature?
Wind
Why do climbers struggle to breathe at high altitude?
Less oxygen due to lower air pressure.
The mass of material in a given space. How close or spread apart the matter is in an object.
Density
How does pressure affect weather at different elevations?
High pressure = clear skies, low pressure = storms.
Give one example of pressure reaching equilibrium.
Opening a soda can or balloon