Why the Wind Blows

Name: Why the Wind Blows
Uploaded: 2021-02-10T00:00:00+00:00
Description: Wind is caused by air moving from high pressure areas to low pressure areas — where air molecules are more spread out and there is more space to fill. This animated science video for children ages 5–10 explains air pressure, how differences in pressure across the globe create wind, and uses a balloon as a simple everyday example.

This video is a part of Animated Atmosphere, a suite of short videos produced by the UCAR Center for Science Education with FableVision Studios.

Learn how air pressure in the atmosphere causes wind as air flows from high pressure to low pressure areas.

Transcript

[0:05] Wind is air moving from a high pressure area to a low pressure area.

[0:09] Let's say that you blow up a balloon and pinch the end closed with your fingers

[0:12] or your teeth.

[0:13] When you open the balloon a bit, air flows out, but not in. Why?

[0:16] Air comes out because the pressure inside is higher than the pressure outside.

[0:20] Air pressure varies across different locations across the globe.

[0:23] Areas with more pressure have tightly packed air molecules.

[0:26] Low pressure areas have more spread out molecules.

[0:28] Air flows from the high pressure area into the low pressure area,

[0:31] when there's more space for the molecules.

[0:33] That whoosh of air you hear and feel is wind.