Materials List:
Air Pressure Experiments:
I Can't Take the Pressure!
https://www.teachengineering.org/activities/view/cub_air_lesson04_activity1
I Can't Take the Pressure!
Student Activity 1: The Strength of Air Pressure
- activity worksheets (3) and reference sheet, 1 set per student; How Great Is Atmospheric Pressure? - Worksheet 1, Amount of Air Pressure on a Square Table and Graph - Worksheet 2, Air Pressure Chart - Worksheet 3, Air Pressure vs. Altitude Data and Graph Reference Sheet
- graph paper, 1-square-inch grid; 1 sheet per student; online source of printable graph paper: http://www.teachervision.com/lesson-plans/lesson-6169.html
- index cards, 1 per student
- sets of 4 objects that will be weighed, such as a textbook, novel, magazine and dictionary; 1 set per group (have one group weigh themselves as the objects)
- tape, to share with the class
- balance (triple beam, small digital, bathroom scale, etc.), to share with the class
Student Activity 2: Air Pressure and Altitude
- Necco or Vanilla Wafers, or colored tiles/blocks, 14 per student
- paper, pencil, ruler; for each student
- (optional) 1 gallon of water, to show students what 8.5 lbs. of weight feels like
Demo 1: Aluminum Can Crush
- 1 aluminum soda can
- 1 large beaker or bucket
- 1 hot plate
- 1 pair of tongs
- 1 cup tap water
- bucket of ice water
- (optional) trivet, to prevent damage to counter top from heated can