Looking for a quick and easy hands-on science activity to help children figure out if air has mass or weight? Children will have fun and enjoy exploring this answer through this easy to prep activity from Education.com. Check it out and let me know how it worked for you!
Into Thin Air
Grade
K – 2nd grades
Difficulty of Project
Easy
Cost
Less than $5.00
Safety Issues
Because of possible latex allergies,
caution should be taken when using balloons
Material Availability
Readily available or easily purchased
at the grocery store
Approximate Time Required to Complete the Project
30 minutes to conduct the investigation
and collect the data; one day to prepare the science fair display
To investigate whether air has mass and
weight
·
6 balloons (same size and shape)
·
7 pieces of string about 8 inches in
length
·
Marker
·
Ruler
·
Tape
·
Table
Air is all around us. Because air is
mostly invisible, many young children mistakenly assume it has no mass or
weight. Air is made up of different gases, including nitrogen, carbon dioxide,
water vapor, oxygen, and others. All of these gases are composed of particles,
or molecules.
In this investigation, balloons filled
with air are compared to show that air does have mass and weight.
Terms, Concepts, and Questions to Start Background Research
mass:t he size or amount of something
compared to its weight
weight: heaviness; the amount something
weighs
inflate: to fill with air
Air has weight and mass.
Research Questions
·
Does air have weight?
·
Does air have mass?
·
What inflates a balloon?
1. Gather
the necessary materials.
2. To
show that air has mass, have an adult help inflate the balloons to six
different sizes.
3. The
mass of the air causes the balloons to inflate.
4. Tie
off the end of each balloon and then tie a piece of string to the end of each
balloon.
5. Using
the marker, label the balloons A, B, C, D, E, and F.
6. Predict
which balloon is the heaviest. Record your prediction.
7. Tie
one end of a piece of string to the center of the ruler. Tape the other end of
the string to a table so that the ruler hangs freely below. Be sure that the
ruler balances straight across when it is hanging. Move the string to make
adjustments.
8. Compare
the weight of the balloons by tying different combinations of balloons to the
ends of the ruler exactly one inch from the end. The balloon that tips the
ruler down weighs more than the other balloon. Record the data.
Bibliography
Branley, Franklyn M. Air
is All Around You. HarperCollins Children’s Books: New
York, 1962.
Author:
Nancy Rogers Bosse
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