General Science Today's Tidbit

• What is an aerosol?

Many people, when they hear the word "aerosol, " think of a chemical aersol spray from a can of air freshener or hair spray. The word actually applies to any solid or liquid partical suspended in air. Because they are so small, aerosols tend to float (e.g., clouds) though like everything else they are subjected to gravity, failing at a rate of about four inches every 24 hours, unless washed away more quickly by rain.

 

• How is wind Speed Measured? 

Wind speed is measured with a device called an anemometer, which was an invention of English physicist Robert Hooke. The most commonly used type is the rotating cup anemometer, which uses three or four small cups that spin around a central pole.  Collected data is being transmitted to the weather stations which then predicts the nature of wind and change in weather. 

 

 

 

• What are the Arctic and Antarctic Circle? 

The circles are Imaginry lines that sorrund the north and south poles at 66.5 degrees latitude. Arctic circle is a line of latitude at 66.5 degree north of the equator and the Antarctic circle is a line of latitude at 66.5 degrees south. Areas north of the arctic circle are dark for 24 hours near December 21 and areas south of the Antarctic circles are dark for 24 hours near the 21st june. Almost all of the continent of Antarctic is located to the south of the Antarctic circle.