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Where does wind come from and how come clouds can float if there's gravity and they don't just steam into the air

A) Wind is caused by temperature differences, and clouds can float due to their low density compared to the surrounding air.
B) Wind is caused by the rotation of the Earth, and clouds float because they have wings.
C) Wind is caused by air pressure, and clouds float because they are made of helium.
D) Wind is caused by the moon's gravitational pull, and clouds float because they have special anti-gravity devices

User Hoytman
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1 Answer

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Final answer:

Wind originates from temperature-induced pressure differences, causing air to move from high to low pressure. Clouds float because their components are less dense than the surrounding air, and the dynamic processes of condensation and convection help keep them aloft despite gravity.

Step-by-step explanation:

Where does wind come from, and how come clouds can float if there's gravity, and they don't just steam into the air? Answer A is correct. Wind is caused by temperature differences, and clouds can float due to their low density compared to the surrounding air.

Wind is the result of air moving from high-pressure areas to low-pressure areas, and these pressure differences are often caused by variations in temperature. For example, when the Sun heats the Earth's surface, the air above it warms up, causing it to rise due to the decrease in density as per Charles's law. As this warm air rises, cooler air moves in to take its place, creating wind.

Clouds are able to float because they consist of tiny water droplets or ice crystals which, due to their small size, are able to be suspended in the air. The rising of water vapor due to convection and the release of heat when the vapor condenses into clouds also helps maintain their presence in the sky. Although gravity does pull on the droplets within clouds, the air beneath the clouds also provides upward support which allows them to 'float' at various altitudes in the atmosphere.

User Sherpa
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