Science:Simple

ExperimentAir
TakesUpSpace
PostedonJul16,2012|4comments
Pin it

1K+

Science

Scienceisnotjustabodyofknowledge.Scienceisalsoaprocessof
investigation.Itisconcernedwithfindingoutabouttheworldina
systematicway.Animportantpartofscienceeducationprovidesstudents
withtheprocessesandskillsrequiredtoinvestigateandacquire
knowledgeaboutthemselvesandtheirenvironment.Theinvestigation
processincludes:
Observing
Proposingexplanations
Predictingoutcomes
Testingpredictions
Modifyingunderstandings
Makingpredictionssupportedbytesting
Explainingandapplyingunderstandings

SimpleExperiment:AirTakingUpSpace
Whatisair?Whatareitscharacteristics?Usingthissimpleexperiment,
weinvestigatedaninterestingcharacteristicofair.Youwillneed
afunnel;emptybottle;balloon,maskingtape,rubberband,water.

{Observe,PredictOutcomes,TestPredictions}Putthefunnelintothe
mouthofthebottleandbeforepouringwaterintothefunnel,letchildren
predictwhatwillhappenwhentheypourwaterintothefunnel.(N&M
predictedthatthewaterwillflowintothebottle).Pourthewaterintothe
funnelandobserve,thewaterflowsintothebottle.{Observe,Predict
Outcome,TestPredictions}Now,securethefunnelontothebottleso
thereisnospacebetweenthetwo.Ifounditverydifficulttosealupthe
bottle.Itriedusingsomeclayatfirst,butthatfailedmiserably.Intheend
Ihadtostretchaballoonoverthetopofthebottle;cutatinyholeinthe
stretchedballoontoputthefunnelinto;putthefunnelontopofthebottle
throughthattinyhole;tapethefunnelontothebottlewithmaskingtape
andsecurethefunneltothebottleagainwithaverylargeelasticband.
Beforepouringwaterintothefunnelandnowsealedbottle,letchildren
predictwhatwillhappenwhentheypourwaterintothefunnel.(N&M
predictedthatthewaterwillflowintothebottle,asithaddonebeforethe
bottlewassealed).Testpredictionsbypouringwaterintothefunneland
nowsealedupbottle.Observethatthewaterremainsinthefunneldoes
notflowintothebottle.(N&Mexclaimed,Thewaterisstuck!.Using
theirfingers,theyeventriedtopushthewaterintothebottle,butthe
waterstilldidntgointothebottle.)

{ProposeExplanations}Letchildrenproposewhythewaterhas
remainedinthefunnelinsteadofflowingintothe(sealed)bottle.Discuss
whathaschanged;thebottlehasbeensealedoffsothingscantgetout.
Nowthatthebottleissealed,aircantgetout.Watercantgetintothe
bottlebecauseitsalreadyfullofair.Beforewesealedupthebottle,air
couldeasilygetoutofthebottleandmakespaceforthewaterpouredin
throughthefunnel.{ModifyUnderstandings}Althoughwecantseeair,
weknowitsthereandittakesupspace.
T H U R S D A Y, A P R I L 7 , 2 0 1 1

Liquids, Solids, Gases, Oh My!

We are learning about the states of matter- solids, liquids,
gases...oh my! We did such a simple experiment that shows
students how air has mass. It is so hard for students to understand
that air has weight, or mass!
Do you need a simple way to show your students that air has
mass?
Here is what you will need:
- a large glass bowl, filled up about 3/4 with water
- a plastic or glass cup (I used plastic so that my students could do
this with a partner and then I would not have to panic about glass
breaking!)
- a napkin or paper towel
- curious and interested students who have formed a hypothesis
about what will happen to the napkin when the cup is placed in the
water :)
Directions:

Place a napkin/paper towel inside a glass or plastic cup. You might

want to tape the nakin so that it stays put! Fill a large bowl with
water. Place the cup inside the bowl, straight down. If it is
sideways, water will go inside the cup!

Push the cup down touch the bottom of the bowl.

You can't see from here, but the paper towel/napkin is dry!

This student does not believe it! She pulled the cup out of the
water and felt the napkin.
YES!
It is completely dry!
Lesson learned: an "empty" cup is really not empty!
Check out this site for more detailed directions:
Air Takes Up Space
Not learning about matter? Snag this copy of the PHMPRC chart
that we used for your next experiment.