AIR PRESSURE VS CLOUD COVER

OBJECTIVE: FIND THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN AIR PRESSURE AND CLOUD COVER.

TIME NEEDED: Several whole class periods and about five minutes at the beginning of ten class periods

MATERIALS:
Barometer
Cloud Chart
Computer Access to Weather Data

PROCEDURE:

1. Have students read for information about air pressure.
2. Present the problem: How does air pressure affect cloud cover?
3. Have students state their hypothesis: If air pressure increases, cloud cover will
(increase) (decrease) (stay the same). I think this way because
4. Elicit a table to organize information:
Date Time Air Pressure % Cloud Cover Type of Clouds
5. Over the next two weeks, have students measure the air pressure at the beginning of class and observe the clouds from the window.
6. Take students outside to observe cloud cover on several different days when different kinds of clouds are visible.
7. Have students observe clouds as they walk to and from school.
8. Show students how to find the barometric pressure on line from the closest weather center.
9. Have periodic class discussions to analyze the data.
10. After two weeks students analyze the data and draw a conclusion as to whether their original hypothesis is supported by the data.
11. Students write a Lab Report with the Following parts: Problem; Hypothesis; Materials: Procedure; Data Table and Analysis, Conclusion.