Geography Grade 5 Weather Flashcards
What is the definition of temperature?
Temperature tells us how hot or cold something is
On days when it is neither hot nor cold, we say that the temperature is ….?
Mild
Lowest temperatures are usually just after ….?
Sunrise
Highest temperatures are usually just after ….?
Midday (12 o’clock)
Temperature is measured in …?
Degrees Celsius
What is a thermometer?
An instrument used to measure temperature
At what temperature does water boil?
100 degrees Celsius
At what temperature does water freeze?
0 (zero) degrees Celsius
What is the temperature of a healthy person?
37 degrees Celsius
What is the definition of freezing point?
It is the temperature at which water freezes - at 0 (zero) degrees Celsius.
What instrument do you use to measure wind speed?
Anemometer
What is wind?
Wind is moving air
Why does air move?
Air moves because there are differences in the temperature of the air. As it gets hotter, it gets lighter and rises. Then cold air blows in to take its place.
What 2 things can be used to measure wind direction?
Wind vane and wind sock.
How are winds named?
They are named according to the direction FROM which they blow. eg a westerly wind blows from WEST to EAST.
What is a nautical mile?
It’s the unit used to measure distances at sea. One nautical mile = 1.8km
What is a knot?
Wind speed is measured in knots. One knot = one nautical mile per hour.
1knt = 1.8km/hr
What is a cloud?
It’s a collection of very tiny droplets of water or ice crystals. The droplets are so tiny and light that they can float in the air.
Air that is closer to the ground is usually in the form of an invisible gas called …?
Water vapour
What weather symbol do we use to indicate cloud cover on a map?
A circle
What does a completely black circle mean on a map?
The whole sky will be completely covered with clouds. This is called OVERCAST.
What does an unshaded circle mean on a map?
Clear skies with no cloud.
Why is rain important? Give 3 reasons.
- All living things depend on rain to survive.
- Crops, trees, plants and animals grow when enough rain falls.
- Rain cleans the air by getting rid of pollutants and dust.
What instrument do we use to measure rain?
Rain gauge
What unit do we measure rain in?
Millimetres (mm).
What is the definition of atmosphere?
It is the air that surrounds the earth.
What is precipitation?
It’s when water falls from the atmosphere in liquid or solid form. ie as rain, hail or snow.
How is snow formed?
Snow starts off in the same way as rain, with tiny droplets of water joining together in the clouds until they are too heavy. Snow is formed when tiny pieces of ice crystals stick together.
How is hail formed?
Hail forms in large thunder clouds when balls of ice are continuously pulled far up into the colder parts of the atmosphere. As the ice goes up, it gathers more water and freezes into a bigger ball. Finally it gets very heavy and falls to the ground as hail.
Name 4 ways in which weather can affect people’s daily lives.
- TYPE OF AGRICULTURE in a country is affected by the weather. SA’s weather is moderate so farmers can grow different types of crops and keep a variety of animals.
- TYPE OF HOUSES we build is affected by weather.
Hot climates - buildings are often painted white/light to reflect heat.
Cold climates - some houses are built on stilts as protection from the freezing ground. Eskimo’s build igloos made from blocks of ice. - CHOICE OF CLOTHING is affected by weather.
Hot days - we wear cool clothes.
Cold days - we wear warm clothes and jackets.
Rainy days - we wear raincoats and use umbrellas. - SPORT, LEISURE & TRAVEL are affected by weather.
Sport example: If it’s raining, sport practices are cancelled. In SA we don’t get much snow, so there’s no skiing.
Leisure example: If it’s hot, we swim, ride a bike or take a dog for a walk. If it’s raining, we stay indoors, read a book, play games or watch a movie.
Travel example: If it’s raining, we travel by car to school instead of walking. For a holiday, you can travel to France to go skiing in winter.
