Science Experiments | Weather - What causes wind?

What causes wind?

Air moves because of differences in both temperature and air pressure, also called atmospheric pressure. Atmospheric pressureThe pressure exerted by the atmosphere at Earth's surface due to the weight of the air. is the pressure exerted by the atmosphere at Earth's surface due to the weight of the air.

As the Sun heats Earth's surface, the surface heats the air above it. As the air molecules warm up, they move farther apart. This reduces the densityThe mass of a substance compared to its volume. or heaviness of the air and creates an area of low air pressure. On the other hand, molecules in cool air are closer together, making that air denser and heavier. Cool air creates an area of high air pressure.

Air moves from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure, creating wind....

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