What Causes Wind

Question 1

On a sunny afternoon the sand in the playground sandbox feels warm, but the grass right next to it stays cooler. Which explanation best describes why the Sun heats these two spots differently?

Accepted Answer

The sand absorbs more sunlight while the grass reflects some of the Sun’s rays, so the Sun warms them unequally.

Answer

The Sun is stronger over the sand than over the grass.

Answer

A breeze blows only over the grass, keeping it cooler.

Answer

The sand is higher than the grass, putting it closer to the Sun.

Question 2

At the community garden, the black stone pathway feels hot while the nearby white‑painted fence stays cool. Which explanation best shows why air moves over the pathway?

Accepted Answer

The black stone absorbs more sunlight and becomes hotter than the white fence; the warm air above the stone rises, and cooler air from over the fence moves in to replace it, creating wind.

Answer

The black stone gets hotter, but the warm air above it is heavier and stays still, so no wind is produced.

Answer

The Sun pushes directly on the air, so the wind comes from the Sun’s force rather than from temperature differences.

Answer

Because the air over the cool fence is colder, it rises upward, causing the warm air from the stone pathway to move downward and make wind.

Question 3

At a school picnic, the concrete parking lot feels very hot while the grassy area under a big tree stays cool. Why does this uneven heating of the ground cause wind to blow near the hot concrete?

Accepted Answer

The warm air over the hot concrete rises, so cooler air from over the shaded grass moves in to replace it, creating wind.

Answer

The warm air over the hot concrete stays on the ground because warm air is heavier than cool air.

Answer

The Sun heats all the air the same, so no air movement happens near the concrete.

Answer

The warm air over the hot concrete sinks down, pushing the cool air away and making wind.

Try three questions

On a sunny afternoon the sand in the playground sandbox feels warm, but the grass right next to it stays cooler. Which explanation best describes why the Sun heats these two spots differently?

At the community garden, the black stone pathway feels hot while the nearby white‑painted fence stays cool. Which explanation best shows why air moves over the pathway?

At a school picnic, the concrete parking lot feels very hot while the grassy area under a big tree stays cool. Why does this uneven heating of the ground cause wind to blow near the hot concrete?

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