How do changes in density cause air movement?
1 Answer
Jul 26, 2015
Density is related to pressure and a pressure gradient is what creates air movement.
Explanation:
A pressure gradient (change in air pressure over distance) is what causes the air to move as the atmosphere tries to balance itself. Air will move from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure.
Density is inversely proportional to pressure (the lower the density the higher the pressure). So air will move from an area of low density to and area of high density, although the density is not what makes the air move, the pressure is.
The combined gas law will show you the mathematics of this.
