GOGE

Newton's First Law of Motion

• An object's speed and direction of movement remain constant unless a force is exerted on it.

• This principle applies to any object, including air, which has mass.

Air Motion

• Air at rest stays stationary; air in motion continues to move at the same speed and direction unless acted upon by a force.

• The upward directed pressure gradient force is significant, especially as air pressure decreases with altitude.

  • This creates a paradox as one might think high pressure should propel us into space.

  • Gravity balances this upward force, resulting in no net force acting on us.

Forces and Net Force

• To change an object's movement (speed or direction), a net force must be present:

  • Example using a golf ball and two golf clubs hitting it from opposite sides:

    • If both forces are equal and opposite, the ball will not move; it stays stationary.

• The air's movement indicates the presence of a net force acting upon it.

Pressure Gradient Force

• Pressure gradient is crucial for understanding wind:

  • Higher pressure inside a balloon demonstrates the concept; pop it and air rushes out due to higher internal pressure.

• Isobars on a map connect points of equal pressure; they illustrate pressure gradients:

  • Closer isobars indicate a steep pressure gradient, predicting stronger winds.

  • Wider spaced isobars reflect a weak pressure gradient, resulting in calmer winds.

Coriolis Force

• Coriolis effect affects the movement of air, water, and other objects on Earth's surface:

  • In the Northern Hemisphere, deflection is to the right;

  • In the Southern Hemisphere, deflection is to the left.

  • This effect is crucial for understanding wind patterns and ocean currents as air moves from areas of high pressure to low pressure.