Amplify Science Weather and Climate

An air parcel is an amount of air that moves together. On Day 1 and Day 2, the air parcel above Anzac started with the same amount of water vapor in it. It rained at the end of Day 2 but it did not rain at the end of Day 1. What could have been different on Day 2 to cause rainfall?

• The air parcel was cooler than the surrounding air on Day 2, so it gained energy on Day 2 but not on Day 1.

• The air parcel was warmer than the surrounding air on Day 2, so it gained energy on Day 2 but not on Day 1.

• The air parcel was warmer than the surrounding air on Day 2, so it lost energy on Day 2 but not on Day 1.

• The air parcel was at the same low temperature as the surrounding air on Day 2, so it had low energy on Day 2 but not on Day 1.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

There were two rainstorms in Hatfield last month. Before Storm 1, Hatfield’s temperature at the surface was 31°C. Before Storm 2, the temperature at the surface was 15°C. The temperature of areas surrounding Hatfield was the same before both storms. There was the same amount of water vapor in the air parcels before both storms. Which storm is likely to have had more rainfall?

• Storm 1. The air parcel at the surface was warmer and had more energy, so when it moved higher, it lost more energy.

• Storm 1. The air parcel at the surface was warmer and had more energy, so when cooler air from above came down, it lost more energy.

• Storm 2. The air parcel at the surface was cooler and had less energy, so when it moved higher, it gained more energy.

• Storm 2. The air parcel at the surface was cooler and had less energy, so with low energy it remained near the surface.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

Dayton had two rainstorms in June. Storm 1 had more rainfall than Storm 2. The temperature of the surrounding areas was the same before both storms. What conditions could have caused Storm 1 to have more rainfall than Storm 2? Before Storm 1, Dayton could have been:

• cooler than before Storm 2 and windy. Wind pushed the cooler air parcel even higher and the air parcel gained more energy.

• cooler than before Storm 2 and windy. Wind caused the cooler air from above the air parcel to move down, causing the cooler air parcel at the surface to lose more energy.

• warmer than before Storm 2 and windy. Wind pushed more water vapor out of the warmer air parcel.

• warmer than before Storm 2 and windy. Wind pushed the warmer air parcel even higher and the air parcel lost more energy.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

The air temperature of Ostley is higher than the air temperature of Eastbrook. What is the main cause for the different air temperatures?

• More energy from the sun is transferred to the ground in Ostley than in Eastbrook, and that energy is transferred to the air above it.

• More energy from the sun is transferred to the air in Ostley than in Eastbrook, and that energy is transferred from the air to the ground below it.

• The heat from the center of Earth transferred more energy to the ground in Ostley than in Eastbrook, and that energy transferred to the air above it.

• There was less wind in Ostley and more wind in Eastbrook. Wind moved more energy out of the air in Eastbrook than in Ostley.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Nasha left a hot bowl of soup in a cool room. Her friend tells her that her soup will get cold if she forgets to eat it. How cold could it get?

• Only a little colder. It started out much hotter, so it will stop cooling down before it reaches the same temperature as the room.

• Only a little colder. It will stop cooling down when its temperature is about halfway between its starting temperature and the temperature of the room.

• Only as cold as the temperature of the room. It will stop cooling down when it is exactly the same temperature as the room.

• Colder than the temperature of the room. It will keep cooling down for as long as she leaves it in the room.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

NGSS.MS-PS3-3

NGSS.MS-PS3-4

NGSS.MS-PS3-5

Air Parcel 1 is warmer than the surrounding air. Air Parcel 2 is at the same temperature as the surrounding air. Air Parcel 1 and Air Parcel 2 started with the same amount of water vapor in them. Which air parcel will have more rainfall and why?

• Both air parcels will have the same amount of rain. They have the same surrounding air temperature, so the same amount of water vapor will fall as rain.

• Air Parcel 1 will gain energy from the surrounding air, which will cause more water vapor to fall as rain.

• Air Parcel 1 will lose energy to the surrounding air, which will cause more water vapor to fall as rain.

• Air Parcel 2 is colder than Air Parcel 1, so more water vapor will fall as rain.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

The town of Kokomo had two rainstorms in November. Storm 1 had more rainfall than Storm 2. The temperature of the surrounding areas was the same before both storms. What would explain why Storm 1 had more rainfall than Storm 2?

Before Storm 1, the air parcel at the surface could have been:

• warmer, so when cooler air from above moved down, it lost more energy.

• warmer, so when the air parcel moved higher, it lost more energy.

• cooler, so the air parcel had low energy and remained near the surface.

• cooler, so when the air parcel moved higher, it gained more energy.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

There were two rainstorms in Chateh last summer. Before Storm 1, Chateh’s temperature was 12°C. Before Storm 2, the temperature was 29°C. Before both storms, the temperature of the surrounding areas was the same and wind was blowing toward Chateh. There was the same amount of water vapor before Storm 1 and Storm 2.

Which storm likely had more rainfall?

• Storm 1. Wind caused cooler air from above the air parcel to move down, causing the air parcel at the surface to lose more energy.

• Storm 1. The cooler air parcel had less energy at the surface, so when wind pushed it higher, it gained more energy.

• Storm 2. Wind pushed more water vapor out of the warmer air parcel.

• Storm 2. Wind pushed the warmer air parcel even higher and the air parcel lost more energy.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Sonya put a glass of water on the table and left the room. When she came back, she found water drops on the outside of the glass. Where did the water on the outside of the glass come from?

• The air in the room. Water vapor in the air turned into liquid water.

• The air in the room. Oxygen in the air turned into liquid water.

• Water inside the glass. The water leaked through the glass.

• Water inside the glass. The water moved along the surface of the glass.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

The air temperature of Lawrence is higher than the air temperature of Norristown. What is the main cause for the different air temperatures?

• There was less wind in Lawrence and more wind in Norristown. Wind moved more energy out of the air in Norristown than in Lawrence.

• More energy from the sun is transferred to the air in Lawrence than in Norristown, and that energy is transferred from the air to the ground below it.

• More energy from the sun is transferred to the ground in Lawrence than in Norristown, and that energy transferred to the air above it.

• The heat from the center of Earth transferred more energy to the ground in Lawrence than in Norristown, and that energy transferred to the air above it.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6