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Weather: Wind Chill (Grades 8-10)
Temperature
Measurement | Wind Chill | Rainfall |
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One
of the most prevalent aspects of current weather reporting
is the inclusion of the wind chill factor each day,
particularly in the northern climates during the winter.
Wind
chill factors are supposed to measure the effect of
the combination of temperature and wind speed on human
comfort. Remember that these factors do not have the
same effect on inanimate objects, or even on other animals
or plants. Nor is this effect felt by humans who are
sheltered from the wind.
One
formula for determining the wind chill factor in degrees
Fahrenheit can be found at
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/Gene_Nygaard/windchil.htm
and is:
Twc
= (0.3V0.5 + 0.474 - 0.02V)(T - 91.4) + 91.4
Twc
is the wind chill, V is the wind speed in statute miles
per hour, and T is the temperature in degrees Fahrenheit.
In
a formula to calculate a Celsius wind chill, V would
be the wind speed in kilometers per hour, and T would
be the temperature in degrees Celsius.
1.
Using the formula compute the Fahrenheit wind chill
for a wind speed of 5 mph and a temperature of 10 °F.
2.
If the wind chill reading were –20 °F and the wind speed
were 10 mph, determine the temperature in degrees Fahrenheit.
3.
Explain how the formula for Fahrenheit wind chill could
be changed to create a formula for Celsius wind chill.
Use your explanation to create your own formula for
Celsius wind chill.
According
to the source above, a formula for Celsius wind chill
is:
T(wc)
= 0.045(5.27V0.5 + 10.45 - 0.28V) (T - 33)
+ 33
Remember,
V is the wind speed in kilometers per hour, and T the
temperature in degrees Celsius.
4.
Compare the results of using the formula you created
to the results from the given formula for determining
Celsius wind chill. What might cause any differences.
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