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Air and Motion

Wind

We all know how a dandelion spreads its seeds. With one strong blow from a mouth or a nice gust of wind, the force of moving air moves the seeds from a mature flower head. Moving air causes many different types of motion, such as blowing flags. It can also add height to waves moving through a body of water. The amount of air moving through a particular space at a specific speed determines the force of the air. We qualify tropical storms based on the speed of the wind, or air movement. Hurricanes and cyclones are considered different in that hurricanes typically have winds up to 100 miles per hour while cyclones regester around 45 miles per hour.

Air Pressure

Newton`s law of Action and Reaction states that when you push on something, it will push back. When a balloon is blown up, the confined air will push on the inner walls of the balloon. All the forces are equal and balanced. If the balloon is opened air escapes from the balloon through the opening. As a result no air is pushing against the area of the opening. An inbalance results, for the air pushing against the balloon wall opposite the opening has no balancing force. The balloon will now move in the direction of this unbalanced force.