Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: Pressure
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
Weather patterns and flight principles both rely on the relationship between fluid speed and pressure. In meteorology and elementary physics, you often encounter statements that connect higher wind speed with lower air pressure. This question checks your understanding of that relationship and the basic idea behind Bernoulli principle as it applies to moving air in the atmosphere.
Given Data / Assumptions:
- The situation involves air, which behaves as a fluid.- Wind speed in a particular region is increasing.- We are asked what quantity of the air decreases as the speed increases.- Standard conditions and an idealised application of Bernoulli principle are assumed.
Concept / Approach:
Bernoulli principle states that for an incompressible, non viscous fluid flowing in a streamline, an increase in the speed of the fluid occurs simultaneously with a decrease in static pressure. In practical terms, when air flows faster over a region, the static pressure in that region drops compared to surrounding slower moving air. This concept explains lift on an aircraft wing and wind related low pressure systems in the atmosphere. Humidity, density, and aridity can change in different weather situations, but the direct and fundamental relationship in basic physics is between speed and pressure.
Step-by-Step Solution:
1. Identify the fluid quantity directly linked to flow speed in Bernoulli equation, which is pressure.2. Recall that Bernoulli relation can be written as P + (1 / 2) * rho * v^2 + rho * g * h = constant along a streamline.3. For approximately constant height, an increase in velocity v must be accompanied by a decrease in static pressure P to keep the sum constant.4. Apply this idea to air: stronger winds mean higher flow speed and therefore lower pressure at that region compared to surrounding calmer air.5. Conclude that among the options, pressure is the quantity that reduces when wind speed increases.
Verification / Alternative check:
Weather maps often show low pressure regions associated with strong winds and storm systems. Cyclones and depressions are examples where pressure is significantly lower in the centre and wind speeds are high due to air rushing toward this low pressure area. This observational evidence from meteorology matches the theoretical expectation from Bernoulli principle and confirms that rising wind speed is associated with reduced air pressure.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
- Humidity: Humidity refers to water vapour content in the air and depends on evaporation and condensation processes, not directly on wind speed alone.- Density: Air density can vary with pressure and temperature, but the simple textbook statement emphasises pressure rather than density.- Aridity: Aridity refers to dryness of a climate and is a long term measure, not an instantaneous response to increased wind speed.
Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes confuse weather related terms and may connect wind mainly with humidity or dryness. While wind can influence evaporation, the direct physics relation tested here comes from Bernoulli principle. Focusing on the core fluid dynamics idea that higher speed corresponds to lower static pressure will prevent such confusion in similar exam questions.
Final Answer:
Increased wind speed is accompanied by a reduction in air pressure.
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