Crazy Cold Air
Why does cold air rush out of a freezer when you open the door? How does it then move through a room? Experiment to learn the answers—and gain insight into the blustery winds of Antarctica.
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More About This Resource...
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In this classroom activity, students record the temperatures in and around a walk-in refrigerator or freezer to see how cold air behaves when it meets warmer air. The printable five-page handout includes:
- A series of inquiry-based questions to get students thinking about how the temperature of air changes its density.
- Detailed experiment directions.
- A worksheet that helps students use the experiment results to obtain insight into the wind patterns of Antarctica.
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Completion Time
Approximately 1 period
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Topic
Earth Science -
Subtopic
Climate/Climate Change -
Subtopic
National Science Education Standards
Grades 5-8:• Science as Inquiry CONTENT STANDARD A:• Physical Science CONTENT STANDARD B:• History and Nature of Science CONTENT STANDARD G:
Grades 9-12:
• Science as Inquiry CONTENT STANDARD A:• Physical Science CONTENT STANDARD B:• Earth and Space Science CONTENT STANDARD D:• History and Nature of Science CONTENT STANDARD G:
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Learning Standard
National Science Education Standards
Grades 5-8:• Science as Inquiry CONTENT STANDARD A:• Physical Science CONTENT STANDARD B:• History and Nature of Science CONTENT STANDARD G:
Grades 9-12:
• Science as Inquiry CONTENT STANDARD A:• Physical Science CONTENT STANDARD B:• Earth and Space Science CONTENT STANDARD D:• History and Nature of Science CONTENT STANDARD G:
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