National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Learning Lesson: Toasty Wind

Overview

We feel the wind every day. The air is almost always in motion. One day it may be from the north and the next day from the south. There are many sources for wind: mechanical sources such as fans and, in nature, falling rain as it drags air along. But what is the origin of wind on the earth? Using a toaster, the students will observe that wind is created by the heat that rises.

TOTAL TIME 3 minutes
SUPPLIES Toaster; Pinwheel
PRINTED/AV MATERIAL None
TEACHER
PREPARATION
Pinwheels made today are almost of all plastic construction. Be cautious with the heat from the toaster as it may cause the blades of the pinwheel to soften and deform. also, while hot plates and open flames will produce better results, the toaster is utilized to minimize fire risks should a student attempt to reproduce the experiment at home.
SAFETY FOCUS Thunderstorm Safety

Procedure

This experiment needs to be conducted at solar noon on March 20 or September 22 (plus or minus two days if necessary to work around the weather).

  1. Turn the toaster on to allow the unit to heat.
  2. Ask the student where wind comes from.
  3. Ask the students if a toaster can create wind.
  4. Hold the pinwheel 10 to 15 inches (25 to 40 centimeters) above the top of the toaster to allow the pinwheel to spin.
  5. Turn the toaster off.

Discussion

Most younger students will say clouds or trees cause the wind and that toasters cannot produce wind. They will quickly see that toasters do produce wind. Explain that wind is just air molecules in motion.

The glowing coils in the toaster produces infrared radiation, heating the toaster. The heated toaster then warms the air in the toaster, making the air less dense which, in turn, rises and therefore creating wind.

The source for the earth's heat is the sun. The radiation from the sun heats the ground. The ground, in turn, heats the air and as demonstrated, the air rises. As it rises, cooler air comes in to replace the rising air; what we feel as wind.

The faster the air rises, the faster the wind blows to take its place. Every time will feel the wind, regardless if is from the north, south, east, or west, somewhere else around the world air is rising. The term for this rising air is convection and is responsible for the wind patterns we experience.

Building a Weather-Ready Nation

It is the rising air that creates thunderstorms in the first place. When thunderstorms approach your first danger is generally lightning.

  • REMEMBER that if you can hear thunder, you are close enough to a storm to be struck by lightning. Go to safe shelter immediately!
  • Move to a sturdy building or car. Do not take shelter in small sheds, under isolated trees, or in convertible automobiles.
  • If no shelter is nearby or available, get in a hard-top car and keep the windows up.
  • If you are boating or swimming, get out of boats and away from the water, get to land and find shelter immediately.
  • If you are indoors, unplug unnecessary appliances and use the phone only for emergencies.