Fabulous Fifth Grade

Weather

Air Masses

Cold air has a higher pressure, pushes beneath the lower air pressure found in the warm air mass which causes the warm air mass to rise quickly. As it rises, it becomes colder. As the air vapor cools, it condenses becoming water droplets. These tiny drops of water are called clouds. The clouds continue to form and may become dark as they block the sun from reaching the bottom of them. As the water droplets collide, they join to form larger drops of water that can no longer be held up in the air and fall as rain.

Activity: To observe the behavior of different temperature masses

Since we can't see air, we will use water which behaves the same way.

Students were given the goal of creating a model to represent the hot and cold masses. The materials were
2 plastic cups
2 push pins
large clear plastic tub
room temperature water
hot water
cold water (ice)
food coloring

Push pin is inserted into a plastic cup. Water is poured into cups. Add food coloring. Cups are placed into large clear tub with room temperature water. Note: the level of water in the cups needs to be higher than the level of water in the tub. Simultaneously remove push pins.