science lesson 4-6 Flashcards
long-term average of weather in an area; average precipitation and temperature
climate
day-to-day changes in atmospheric conditions, including temperature, air pressure, humidity, wind, cloud coverage, or precipitation
weather
a flow of unusually warm water along the western coast of South America that causes many changes in weather in other places (such as a lot of rain in areas that are usually dry)
El Nino
as this increases, temperature decreases, Poles are colder
Latitude
the days where there is equal daylight and night
Equinoxes
the shortest or longest days of the year
solstices
the reason for the seasons
Tilt of the Axis
The star the axis points at
Polaris
The movement of an object around another object
Revolution
The spinning of Earth on its axis; 24 hours
Rotation
The total energy of motion in the particles of a substance that can create heat; moves hot to cold
thermal energy
Energy that is radiated or transmitted in the form of rays or waves or particles.
radiation
The direct transfer of heat from one substance to another substance that it is touching.
conduction
The transfer of thermal energy by the circulation or movement of a liquid or gas
convection
A mass of sinking cool air that usually bring fair weather.
high pressure
A mass of rising warm air that usually bring wet, stormy weather.
low pressure
Molecules that spread out, less dense, fast moving
warm molecules
Molecules that are compact, dense, slower moving
cold molecules
A huge body of air that has similar temperature, humidity, and air pressure
air mass
a front where warm air moves over cold air and brings drizzly rain and then are followed by warm and clear weather
warm front
forms when cold air moves under warm air which is less dense and pushes air up (produces thunderstorms heavy rain or snow
cold front
A boundary between air masses that don’t move possibly causing rain for several days
stationary front
a tool used to measure temperature
thermometer
An instrument that measures atmospheric pressure
barometer
