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July 23, 2002
A: FROM MENTOR ANNALIESE BRATCHER, To read Annaliese's bio.
click here.
I love your question, Monica. It shows a desire to know
about fundamental
things in science that we sometimes forget to wonder about.
Our planet's air is the basis of the wind. As our planet rotates
around the
sun, the air that is warmed by the sun rises. This vacant
spot is quickly
filled by cold air. This air movement is the wind. (The side
of the planet
facing the sun is always hotter; the side of the planet away
from the sun is
always cooler. The particles in heated air are excited and
expand and
become lighter than other air. The particles in air that cools
become less
active and compact together, becoming heavier.)
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