Skip to content
Your progress

Checking your sign-in…

Who's learning?

Each profile keeps its own read lessons, badges, streak, and practice scores on this device.

Lesson 5 of 14

From the harder press to the softer one

Show on a big screen

6 min

Text size

Join a full balloon and a flat, empty one with a straw. Which way does the air go?

The full balloon has high pressure. The flat one has low pressure.
Step 1 of 3
  1. The full balloon has high pressure. The flat one has low pressure.
  2. Air moves from the full one to the flat one.
  3. The two pressures become equal. The flow stops.

New word

  • Wind — air moving from high pressure to low pressure.

The rule

Air goes from the full balloon to the flat one.

Air moves from high pressure to low pressure. This moving air is . It stops when the two pressures are equal.

A big pressure difference gives a strong . Air pressure is often measured in hectopascals (hPa). 1 hPa is 100 Pa.

Watch out!

A low pressure area does not suck. The high pressure side pushes the air across.

Slide the time. Watch both balloons.

Loading lab…

Try the lab to finish this lesson.