wind patterns



concept
winds are produced by the circulation of air and are an important part of the weather the patterns of weather within an area characterised by pressure differences lead to daily and seasonal differences in wind direction and strength


context
to record the direction of the wind, asimple comass is requerired. a fun way o feel the wind and invstigate wind resistance is to make and use kites andparachutes


EQUIPAMENT
compass:small transparent round plastic pot with lid (the lid does not need to be transparent ) -card-glue-scissors-waterpool-half of a botlle cork (or small piece of polystyrene)-sewing needle-small magnet-ruler-protractor-water-washing detergent

MARKING IT
1. for the compass cut a small circle of card tofit into the lid of the pot. draw on lines at 90 grades, 180 grades, 270 grades and 360 grades and mark with E, W, and N . stick this into the lid and then place the pot on top. you should now be able to read the positions through the base of the transparent pot.

2.cut a silt across the cork or polystyrene magnetise the needle by stroking it with the magnet in one direction carefully push the needle into the slit.

3.put some weather into the pot and add a drop of detergent to stop the cork of polystyrene drifting over and sticking to the edges of the pot. float the cork or polystyrene on the water

4.A kite can be made from a 50cm square of thin polystyrene sheet such as a ceiling tile first find the center and make it then mark a spot 12cm above he centre as shown in the diagram make holes at both of these points thead sting though each hoe and fasten the end to two buttons fix a line to the thread ( if you wish you can fix paper streamers to the base of the kite )

5.parachutes can be made using squares of thin plastic to make a canopy. tie a thread to each corner, then tread each piece in turn through the centre of a cotton reel andhe lid with the direction signs  tie off the ends.

USING IT
to use the compass place the pot on a level surface when the needle is still carefully turn the lid with th e direction signs until the needle matches the north/south line seen through the base.
you cna fly kites and experiment with different length of tails.it can be a fun way of working out which direction the wind is coming from and going to.

parachutes: work as air collected in the canopy pushes againts it. you can experiment with  different  loads and canopy sizes to see how this affects the rate which the parachute falls.
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