air pressure experiment paper

20 Best Air Pressure Science Experiments / Science Fair Ideas

• November 3, 2022
• Science Experiments

We have put together a list of Air Pressure Science Experiments that is perfect for kids to try at home or to demonstrate their knowledge in a science fair .

These Air Pressure Science Experiments are a sure shot way of fun learning, experimenting, and exploring the fascinating forces of air pressure. These experiments can be conducted anywhere at home, playgrounds or outdoors .

Air Pressure Science Experiments

Before we step into our amazing experiments , let us learn a little about Air Pressure and its properties in words.

Air Pressure is the pressure created on the air molecules exerted by the air pressing down to the earth.

Generally, the air pressure is determined by three factors: Temperature , Moisture , and Altitude. Commonly air pressure is measured using a mercury barometer .

Here are the science activities or experiments to demonstrate Air Pressure to children.

1. Drinks Dispenser Science Activity

We usually observe that Kids are curious about dispensing liquids out of the bottles while adults do the same at parties or in the home. Why don’t we let them prepare their own drinks dispenser! Check out whether our experiment helps our kids in making drinks dispensers in no time and with fewer materials.

Click Drinks Dispenser Science Activity to get all the details before you start investigating.

2. Hot Air Cold Air Science Activity

Performing this science activity is a perfect opportunity for the kids to understand the concept of cold and hot air. In addition, they will get the chance to talk about what is actually happening with the water and air together and to explore the reason or science behind it.

Click on Hot Air Cold Air Science Activity

3. Egg in the bottle Air Pressure Science Experiment

An interesting and entertaining science activity with eggs to understand the differences in air pressure!! Kids, get ready to perform this activity and amaze your friends and family.

For more details about the cool science experiment on air pressure: Browse Egg in the Bottle Air Pressure Science Experiment

4. Oxygen and Air Pressure Experiment

We cannot see the air but we always feel the pressure of the air around us on everything!! Great experiment with a better explanation, demonstration, and appropriate result. It works effectively to start homeschooling with your kids as the little magical trick explains clearly how air pressure works with oxygen.

It is better to browse the experiment once before you start the experiment: Click on Oxygen and Air Pressure Experiment

5. Newton’s Law of Motion Air Pressure Experiment

This is a fun science experiment for preschoolers and kindergartens to explore Air science in a wonderful way!! Kids can perform this cool activity on their own and be amazed to see the magical results of the experiment.

Grab the materials here and get ready to explore air pressure: Newton’s Law of Motion Air Pressure Experiment

6. Balloon in a Bottle : Air Pressure Experiment

This is a simple experiment that shows how Air Pressure works.

Objective: Kids learn how air and air pressure are able to expand a balloon and can have a great demonstration of air pressure.

For more details about the balloon in a bottle: air pressure Browse Balloon in a Bottle: Air Pressure Experiment

7. Balloon and Pin Experiment

Here is an interesting experiment that shows you can make an un-poppable balloon.

A sharp object is a bad friend to an inflated balloon because it lets the balloon pop upon contact! But a pack of the same sharp object becomes a great friend to the same balloon.

Are you interested in learning about what the magical science around balloons and pins? Let’s dive into the Balloon and Pin Experiment (Air Pressure Experiment for Kids)

8. How to Put a Skewer Through a Balloon: Science Fair Project

Do you think an inflated balloon pops out when you insert a skewer into it, as always? Of course, Yes!

But there is a simple trick to insert a sharp-ended skewer into the balloon without blasting it. Let’s learn about this Non-popping balloon experiment.

Though it appears easy, you may not succeed in one or two attempts.

Let’s try this interesting experiment How to Put a Skewer Through a Balloon

9. Crushing Can Experiment: Effect of Atmospheric Pressure

You may be used to crushing cans using foot or hand. Have you crushed it using an implosion? Today we are going to explore the effect of Atmospheric Pressure with the ‘Crushing Can Experiment’.

Let’s work on this interesting experiment Crushing Can Experiment: Effect of Atmospheric Pressure

10. Drip Drop Bottle-Water Bottle Pressure Experiment

Are you aware of the magic water bottles? We are going to perform a very simple ‘Drip Drop Water Bottle Pressure Experiment’, which helps us to make the ‘Magic Water Bottle’.

Let’s check it out by clicking Drip Drop Bottle-Water Bottle Pressure Experiment

11. How to Build a Fast Balloon Powered Car

This one is an awesome engineering project, ‘Build a Balloon Powered Car’. In this project, we are going to learn about Newton’s Third Law and how it is applied to design propulsion vehicles such as cars or rockets, etc.

Let’s try this by clicking How to Build a Fast Balloon Powered Car

12. How To Make a Balloon Hovercraft

Hovercrafts might be old-fashioned means of transport, but they offer a ton of fun and education to children as a science fair project.

Today, we will learn about creating a ‘homemade version of hovercraft’ using just an old CD and a balloon.

Trying this by visiting How To Make a Balloon Hovercraft

13. Air Pressure Hands-on Experiments for Toddlers and Pre-Schoolers

It is a little tricky to explain the concept of air pressure to the kids who are preschoolers and homeschoolers!!

Click the link below to find the two experiments back to back demonstrating air pressure in a simple and neat way.

To know the instructions and materials required to perform these experiments: Click here, Air Pressure Hands-on Experiments for Toddlers and Pre-Schoolers

14. How does a paper towel stay dry Science Experiment?

Extremely easy activity to perform by your young kids. If you are a teacher or a parent, this simple science activity is perfect to introduce air pressure to the younger children in an entertaining way.

Get the details of the simple and fun activity that demonstrates air pressure here: How does a paper towel stay dry Science Experiment?

15. Air Pressure Experiment – Bernoulli Principle

A perfect experiment to understand Bernoulli Principle in an easy and neat way. Just an empty squash bottle is enough to investigate this experiment in simple steps. Wondered!? Browse the experiment to make your children WOW by the magical results it gives.

Find the full experiment details here: Air Pressure Experiment – Bernoulli Principle

16. Floating Plate Experiment using Atmospheric Pressure

This floating plate experiment is specially designed for parents and teachers to explain atmospheric pressure to the kids in a clear way. This experiment provides you with crystal clear explanations of the basics along with some fun activities.

Let us try this experiment without any hassles: Click here, Floating Plate Experiment using Atmospheric Pressure

17. Smaller Balloon Stronger Balloon Experiment

With this experiment, we are going to explore science and maths together in a brilliant way using simple ingredients available at home. Ask your children to connect two different-sized balloons and predict which way the air flows and why! Analyze their conclusions and teach them the appropriate science behind the experiment.

If you also find it interesting, then click here to know more details on how to perform the experiment: Smaller Balloon Stronger Balloon Experiment

18. Air Pressure Experiment using Straws and Tennis Ball

This is a fun and classic experiment to demonstrate air pressure to the children in an easy way!! Ball in the air keeps children engaged and entertained while learning Air Pressure Science.

Have a look at the experiment here: Air Pressure Experiment using Straws and Tennis Ball

19. Coin Poppers Science Experiment

Easy science experiment to demonstrate air pressure using coins! For young kids, this experiment is like a play while experimenting with coins. But can you use any type of coin!? How do coins demonstrate air pressure? Get the answers to all your questions from the experiment disclosed in detail here: Coin Poppers Science Experiment

20. Exploring Air and Air Pressure Science Experiment

A remarkable experiment to investigate the relation between air and air pressure. Best demonstration experiment for teachers to show children on after school classes about air pressure. Kids will get to know about the air and its properties in a simple way!!

Get the complete details here: Exploring Air and Air Pressure Science Experiment

Hope you have got a handful of the best and classic science experiments that clearly demonstrates Air Pressure. All the experiments are safe, easy-to-perform, easy-to-clean, and learning activities with simple steps and materials available in the home.

Kids also will get to analyze the air properties and how it works on different objects around us in real life. Grab it and experiment hassle-free! Happy Experiments!!

Leave a Reply Cancel Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Name  *

Email  *

Add Comment  *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Post Comment

January 9, 2014

Suction Science: How to Break a Ruler Using Air Pressure

Perform an apparent feat of strength with this impressive physics demonstration

By Education.com & Mack Levine

Key concepts Physics Gas Pressure Suction

Introduction Do you think you could break a wooden ruler using just the air around you? What about if you added a newspaper and just one hand? In this cool physics demonstration you'll use the sheer force of our atmosphere's pressure to break a ruler with nothing but newspaper and a single hand.

Background Our atmosphere is a blanket of gas nearly 125 kilometers thick, and just like all matter in the universe the air in our atmosphere, which is made up of molecules, has mass. Gravity pulls on anything that has mass—even when it's as "light" as air! And because we're standing underneath most of this mass, we experience this pressure as a result—we just don't notice it because it has always been there.

On supporting science journalism

If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing . By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.

So how does your body deal with the sheer force of this pressure? It produces its own internal pressure to push back. If you've ever noticed a buildup of pressure in your sinuses or inner ear while traveling to a higher altitude, that's because your body had initially filled these spaces with the right amount of air to match the atmospheric pressure you experience at a lower altitude. You may also know that you can hold your nose shut and forcibly exhale to "pop" your ears (which is not recommended!); this helps equalize the pressure in your skull with that of the surrounding atmosphere as the latter changes with altitude.

More pressure also causes a higher air molecule density—that is, more molecules are forced into a smaller space. This is why athletes tend to perform better at sea level: each breath of air contains more oxygen molecules. This pressure–density relationship works in reverse, too: changes in density affect pressure. As the density of a gas rises, the pressure it exerts rises; as density drops, the pressure drops. Keep this relationship in mind when conducting the following experiment.

Materials • Large, broadsheet newspaper • One to two thin wooden rulers or meter sticks that can be broken. (Avoid using plastic, and avoid using rulers that have a strip of metal embedded in them.) • Sturdy table

Procedure • Place your wooden ruler or meter stick on the table so that slightly less than half of its length extends over the edge of the table. (For example, if using a ruler, allow about five inches to extend over the edge of the table.) • Find a spot on the ruler located about three inches beyond the edge of the table. • Without bracing the other side of the ruler give this location on the protruding end of the ruler your best knife-hand, or karate, chop, making sure to strike with the soft part of your palm. (And watch out for the flying ruler!) Don't brace the ruler with your nondominant hand. What happens when you strike the ruler? Why do you think this is? Try to identify the various forces at play. • Pick the ruler up off the ground and set it on the edge of the table just like you did in the first step. • Next, unfold the newspaper and cover the portion of the ruler touching the table with two overlapping sheets. Smooth the newspaper out to reduce the number of air pockets present in the space between the table and the newspaper. (You definitely won't be able to create a totally airtight seal, but do your best!) Again, make sure the appropriate length of ruler extends over the edge of the table. • Find a spot on the ruler located about three inches beyond the edge of the table. What do you think will happen to the ruler now after you try "chopping" it? • Give the ruler your best strike. (Again, no bracing other than the flattened newspaper is allowed!). What happened to the ruler this time? Why do you think that is? • If the ruler didn't break, try it again, being sure to smooth out the newspaper well and to use a swift, strong chop. If it hurts your hand, ask an adult to volunteer to do the chopping. Observations and results If you struck the ruler firmly and sharply enough during the trial that utilized the sheets of newspaper, you should have been able to break it! Why? You likely inferred that it had something to do with the fact that the end of the ruler that lifts up off of the table has to lift the large sheet of newspaper with it. The newspaper itself isn't very heavy, but it has to push against a lot dense air, which resists changes in its motion (a concept known as inertia).

As you saw (and felt!) from this activity, gases in our atmosphere aren't total pushovers! You'll know this if you've ever stuck a cupped hand out the window of a moving car and tilted it against the air. The inertia of its individual molecules and the continuous collisions between those molecules prevent a gas from just flying out of the way when a solid object passes through it. In fact, scientists describe gases as viscous—they resist being deformed by other forces. Air isn't exactly molasses in this regard, but it's a force to be reckoned with, nonetheless.

An even more powerful force that counteracts the chop you exerted on the ruler is suction. Ever wonder how suction cups are able to stick so firmly? "Suction" can be a misleading concept. Instead of a "pull" you might want to think of it as a "push" that comes from atmospheric pressure. Think about it this way—at a given altitude, air pressure exerts the same amount of force on all exposed surfaces of an object. Air presses on every inch of our skin—it doesn't just press down on the tops of our skulls. This means every inch of your newspaper in contact with the air experiences the same amount of air pressure—that is, until the newspaper lifts up off of the table. Because air isn't able to move very quickly into the expanding space between the newspaper and the table, the molecules in that space have to temporarily occupy more room. So, the density in this space drops and the pressure decreases as a result. In effect, you're creating a partial vacuum (an area of low pressure) in the space between the newspaper and the table. When atmospheric pressure pushes back against this area of lower pressure, it counteracts the ruler’s rotation, causing it to snap in two!

More to explore “ Why Your Ears Pop (and What to Do if They Don't) ,” from Gizmodo Amazing Strength of Air , from Brusspup More Great Science Experiments to Conduct at Home , from Education.com Break a Ruler Using Newspaper and Atmospheric Pressure , from Education.com

This activity brought to you in partnership with  Education.com

FREE K-12 standards-aligned STEM

curriculum for educators everywhere!

Find more at TeachEngineering.org .

• TeachEngineering
• Air Pressure Experiments: I Can't Take the Pressure!

Hands-on Activity Air Pressure Experiments: I Can't Take the Pressure!

Grade Level: 5 (4-6)

Time Required: 1 hour

Expendable Cost/Group: US $1.00

Group Size: 4

Activity Dependency: None

Associated Informal Learning Activity: I Can't Take the Pressure!

Subject Areas: Algebra

NGSS Performance Expectations:

Curriculum in this Unit Units serve as guides to a particular content or subject area. Nested under units are lessons (in purple) and hands-on activities (in blue). Note that not all lessons and activities will exist under a unit, and instead may exist as "standalone" curriculum.

• Air Composition Pie Charts: A Recipe for Air
• Air - Is It Really There?
• Environmental History Timeline
• Barometric Pressure: Good News – We're on the Rise!
• Dripping Wet or Dry as a Bone?
• Turning the Air Upside Down
• Word Origins & Metaphors: Take Their Word for It!
• Weather Forecasting: How Predictable!

TE Newsletter

Engineering connection, learning objectives, materials list, worksheets and attachments, more curriculum like this, introduction/motivation, troubleshooting tips, activity extensions, activity scaling, user comments & tips.

Air pressure is a concept that is important for engineers from all fields to understand. For instance, environmental engineers must understand air pressure because it affects the way in which air pollution travels through the air. Especially in highly populated areas, engineers work with local communities to understand their unique weather and atmospheric conditions, and suggest public and industry behavior and policy changes to keep the air quality at a safe level for breathing. They also create new prevention technologies that address air pollution at the sources.

After this activity, students should be able to:

• Compare atmospheric pressure (in psi) to the pressure exerted by an object (weight per unit area, in psi).
• Explain why air pressure changes with altitude.
• Identify the locations of high and low pressure in an experiment.
• Describe how engineers must understand air pressure because it affects the way in which air pollution travels via air.
• Identify aspects of pressure that are important to consider in engineering aircraft designs.

Educational Standards Each TeachEngineering lesson or activity is correlated to one or more K-12 science, technology, engineering or math (STEM) educational standards. All 100,000+ K-12 STEM standards covered in TeachEngineering are collected, maintained and packaged by the Achievement Standards Network (ASN) , a project of D2L (www.achievementstandards.org). In the ASN, standards are hierarchically structured: first by source; e.g. , by state; within source by type; e.g. , science or mathematics; within type by subtype, then by grade, etc .

Ngss: next generation science standards - science.

Common Core State Standards - Math

View aligned curriculum

Do you agree with this alignment? Thanks for your feedback!

International Technology and Engineering Educators Association - Technology

State standards, colorado - math, colorado - science.

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

Pressure is defined as the amount of force applied per unit area or as the ratio of force to area (P = F/A). The pressure an object exerts can be calculated if its weight (the force of gravity on an object) and the contact surface area are known. For a given force (or weight), the pressure it applies increases as the contact area decreases.

To better understand this, have students hold a large book flat on their outstretched hands and notice how much pressure the book puts on it. Then, have them try to balance the book on the tip of their index fingers. How much pressure does it seem to exert now?

It is also important to note that air pressure decreases with increasing altitude (see Figure 1 and Table 1). Table 1 lists the air pressure for specific elevations. See the Air Pressure vs. Altitude Data and Graph Reference Sheet for more detailed comparison.

Pressure is measured in various units. Scientists and engineers typically use the metric unit Pascal (Pa). A Pascal is defined as the pressure exerted by a 1 Newton weight (1 kg under Earth's force of gravity) resting on an area of 1 square meter. Below is a list of some of the common units used to measure pressure , and their equivalents. Please note that there are many other units that may be used.

At sea level, the atmospheric air pressure can be represented as any of the following:

• 1.013 x 10 5 Pa (Pascal or N/m 2 )
• 1 atm (atmosphere)
• 760 mm Hg (millimeters of mercury)
• 14.7 lb/in 2 (psi, pounds force per square inch; if 1-pound weight rests on 1-square inch of surface area, the pressure is 1 psi)

Humans are relatively permeable to air (it can move easily in and out of our bodies) and that is why our internal pressure stays the same as the pressure of the surrounding (ambient) air. This is the same reason why fish are not crushed in the depths of the ocean; they are permeable to water. Although the atmosphere exerts a significant amount of pressure on everything in our environment, the only time most people are aware of air pressure is when it changes (such as changes in altitude, for example, as you drive up a mountain).

As you climb in elevation, the atmospheric pressure decreases while the pressure in your middle ear may remain constant, causing a difference in pressure. This pressure difference causes your eardrums to bulge and possibly produce pain. Yawning relieves the pain because the action opens the small Eustachian tubes between your ear and pharynx allowing air to escape from your middle ear into the atmosphere though your nose and mouth. As the pressure is equalized, your ear "pops" when the eardrum snaps back into its normal position.

Engineers who design airplanes study air pressure. Airplane cabins are "pressurized." This means the inside of the plane maintains a constant pressure of about 14 pounds per square inch regardless of the pressure outside of the cabin. At high altitudes, the air has a very low pressure, which affects the way we breathe. This same effect occurs when people move from sea level locations, such as New York City, to the mountains, such as Denver, CO. Often, it takes a few weeks for their bodies to adjust to the lower pressure.

Before the Activity

• Gather materials and make copies of the reference sheet and three worksheets ( 1 , 2 , 3 ).
• If balances and scales are not available in your classroom, determine the mass of the objects before class and provide students with the information.
• Practice the aluminum can demonstration.
• Ask students to define air pressure. If necessary, remind them the properties of air: it has mass, it takes up space, it can move, it exerts pressure (it pushes on things) and it can do work.
• Ask: How strong is atmospheric air pressure? (Is it as much pressure as an ant standing on 1 square inch would exert? Or, an elephant? Or, 12 elephants?)
• Tell students they are going to compare the pressure that different objects exert on the Earth (due to gravity) to atmospheric air pressure.
• Divide the class into groups of four students each.
• Distribute to each group the worksheets, graph paper, index cards and four objects (for one group, the four objects could be themselves).
• Have the students determine the mass of their objects and record it on the worksheet 1 (see Figure 2). Direct the group that is weighing themselves to each stand on one flat foot on the scale while the measurement is made.

• Direct students to place their object on the grid paper in the same orientation as it was when it was on the balance (the position does not affect the mass, but it affects the contact/surface area value and thus, the ultimate pressure). Have students carefully trace around the object, add up the squares and record the contact area on their worksheets. Have the group that is weighing themselves trace around the foot they stood on. Students may need some help estimating and rounding for partial squares.
• Have students record on their worksheets the data for every group member.
• Ask students to calculate the pressure that each of the objects exerts. (P = F/A, in this case F = weight of the object.)
• Have students write the name of their objects and the resulting pressures on index cards and tape them to the classroom board.
• Have students rearrange the cards in order of increasing pressure.
• On their worksheets, have students predict which object they think has the closest value to the air pressure around them and explain why. Ask a few students to share their predictions.
• Share the actual value of the air pressure with the students (about 14.7 psi at sea level). Were they surprised with the results?
• Ask the class: Does air pressure change with altitude? If so, how does it change? Why do they think this happens?
• Direct students to each build a tower using wafers or colored tiles/blocks that is 14-wafers tall (see Figure 3).

• Ask students: How does this model represent air pressure changing with altitude? (Listen to student explanations.) Explanation: Imagine that the wafers are the air in the atmosphere and that the bottom wafer is at sea level—the lowest point in the troposphere. The top wafer is a higher layer in the stratosphere or some place like the top of Mount Kilimanjaro. Imagine that you are standing at sea level, the level of the bottom wafer. The air pressure at sea level is the highest, because at that point all the air (wafers) is pressing on everything. Now imagine that you are standing on/near the top of the stack, at a higher altitude. Here, much less air (fewer wafers) are pressing on each other, thus the air pressure is less than at sea level.
• Share the sea level air pressure with students (14.7 psi) and the air pressure in your city (for example, Denver, CO, at one-mile high, is about 12.4 psi).
• Ask students to describe in their own words how air pressure changes with altitude, recording their information on worksheet 1.
• Variation: Stack books or pillows in students' laps/arms so they can "feel" the different pressures instead of just visualizing with the wafers.
• Eat the candy or cookie wafers.
• In Denver, the Earth's atmosphere has a force of about 12 pounds per square inch (psi). For reference, a gallon of milk or water weighs about 8 pounds. Show the students what a 1 inch by 1 inch square looks like. Now show the students what a 2 x 2-inch square looks like, and ask them how many pounds would be pressing down on that square. (Answer: 48) See the Amount of Air Pressure on a Square - Worksheet 2 , for a comparison of pressures at the altitudes of Boston, MA, and Denver, CO.
• Ask: How many pounds would be pressing on a 3 x 3-inch square? (Answer: 108) A 4 x 4-inch? (Answer: 192) Direct the students to complete the  Air Pressure Chart - Worksheet 3 .
• Ask: Do you see a pattern? What happens every time the square increases by one in 2 ? (Answer: The pounds of force increases by 12.)
• The average pressure on a middle school student is 24,000 pounds! Ask: Do you feel that pressure? Why don't you feel that pressure? (See if students can explain. Answer: Humans are permeable to air. Air exists inside the body, too—from breathing, through the skin, ears, etc.—and that air balances out the pressure on the outside of the body.)
• Fill the bucket with ice water.
• Fill the soda can with approximately 1 cm of water.
• Place the soda can on the hot plate until the water boils. Be alert to not let the can boil dry!
• Use the tongs to carefully remove the can from the heat and place it in an upright position on the tabletop (or trivet).
• Ask: Do you see any change in the can? (See Figure 4.) Direct students to record their observations on worksheet 1
• Repeat the heating process. This time, when you remove the can with the tongs, quickly invert it and submerge the can opening in the bucket of ice water.
• Ask: Do you see any change in the can? (See Figure 4.) Direct students to record their observations on worksheet 1.

• Direct students to draw a diagram of the experimental results. Have them indicate where the pressure must be the highest with a letter H and the lowest with a letter L. (Answer: Air pressure is lowest, L, inside the overturned can and highest, H, outside the can and around the experiment.)
• Ask: Why do you think the can was crushed? (Listen to some student explanations. Answer: Before heating, the pressure inside and outside the can is the same. We assume the pressures on both sides remain approximately the same while heating since the can does not deform. As the water boils, the air that escapes from the can is gradually replaced by water vapor until the internal atmosphere is composed almost completely of water vapor. When the can is removed from the heat, the vapor pressure drops dramatically. It decreases from 101.3 kPa at 100 ºC to about 2.3 kPa at room temperature. Therefore, as the temperature drops to room temperature, the pressure inside the can drops 97%. If the can is open to the atmosphere, air flows back into the can as the water condenses and keeps the pressure essentially constant. However, if the opening of the can is submerged, the vapor in the can cannot equilibrate with the atmosphere. In the bucket of water, the temperature in the can decreases and the water vapor condenses, creating a pressure difference of almost 99 kPa. Water is forced in to fill this partial vacuum, but before it does, air pressure on the walls implodes the can. Note that the collapsed can contains water (more than when you started), indicating water entered at the same time the walls collapsed.
• Have students work in pairs to answer the following questions:
• The air inside an aircraft is kept at a pressure similar to what human bodies experience at the Earth's surface. Knowing this, what can you say about the pressure difference between the air inside a plane versus the air outside a plane, once a plane is 30,000 ft above the Earth's surface? (Answer: The air pressure is much lower outside the plane than inside the plane.)
• Is pressure pushing from the inside of the plane outwards? Or, is pressure pushing on the outside on the plane inwards? It may help to figure this out by sketching a plane and using arrows to indicate the direction of pressure. (Answer: Pressure is pushing from the inside [high pressure] to the outside where the pressure is lower.)
• How might engineers incorporate this knowledge into their airplane designs? (Answer: Engineers design airplanes, jets, rockets and space shuttles to be strong enough so they do not explode when high in the atmosphere and in conditions in which the inside and outside air pressures are different. The material needs to be much stronger than an aluminum can!)

Pre-Activity Assessment

Discussion Questions : Solicit, summarize and integrate student responses to the following questions. After the discussion, explain that these questions will be answered during the upcoming demonstrations and activities. Ask the students:

• What is air pressure?
• How strong is atmospheric air pressure? Is it as much pressure as an ant standing on 1 square inch would exert? Or, an elephant? Or, 12 elephants?

Activity Embedded Assessment

Activity Sheets : Use the three worksheets and reference sheet to help students follow along with the activity. Review their answers to gauge their depth of comprehension.

Post-Activity Assessment

Student-Generated Questions : Ask each student to come up with one question to ask the class, based on the content of the activity. The students may require help in generating the questions. Call on a few students to ask their questions.

Safety Issues

• Make sure that students understand that they could get burned if they touch the hot plate or hot can.
• Make sure the hot plate is turned off when not in use.

In English, we use the term "weight" when we really mean mass. Mass is the amount of matter in an object. Weight is the force of gravity on a particular mass. Students may need some clarification. To add to the confusion, we also use the unit of pounds for both! However, mass is measured in pounds-mass and weight in pounds-force.

During the calculation of contact area, students may need some help estimating and rounding for partial squares. It may help to do a quick example on the classroom board or overhead projector.

You may want to start the water boiling in the aluminum can while conducting Student Activity 2: Air Pressure and Altitude—just do not forget about it and let it boil dry!

When the can is dunked in the bucket of cold water, it is crushed very quickly, so have students gather around so they can see what happens. It is highly recommended that you practice this activity in advance.

If calculating pressures exerted at sea level is too difficult, it may be easier to provide the square areas 1-12 or perform the calculations using the air pressure in Denver (12 psi).

Have students do all their measurements and calculations in metric units. Use the following conversion factors:

1 cm 2 = 0.001 m 2

1 lb = 0.454 kg

1 in 2 = 6.45 cm 2 = 0.000645 m 2

1 Pa = 1.45 x 10 -4 lb/in 2

1 kg mass weighs 9.8 N

Change the size of the grid students use to calculate the surface area of their feet. For example, use a 1 cm 2 grid, or a ½ in 2 grid.

Make a graph that shows how air pressure changes with altitude.

Relate the concepts explored in this activity to water pressure deep in the ocean.

• For grades 3 and 4, the multiplication and division may need to be modified; expect students to be able to do the multiplication with a calculator.
• For grades 1 and 2, conduct this activity as a class. Use tape and an index card to label items with the pressure that they exert, and have each student take a card. Ask students to arrange themselves (and the cards) in order of increasing pressure.

For grade 6 students:

• Rather than demonstrate the squares to the students, have them measure their own 1 x 1, 2 x 2, 3 x 3, and 4 x 4-inch square and find the pressure.
• The average surface area for an elementary school student is about 2,000 in 2 . Rather than telling students this information, have them calculate the amount of air pressure pushing down on them (24,000 lbs.).
• Have students calculate the force for other areas such as one square foot (144 in 2 ), a football field (approx. 8,000,000 in 2 ).
• Have students plot square inches vs. force on a graph.
• The average force of the atmosphere at sea level (New York City = 87 ft., San Diego = 13 ft. and Boston = 10 ft. — all close to sea level) is 15 pounds per square inch (almost 2 gallons of milk). Have students repeat their calculations for the pressure a sea level.

For grade 3 students:

• The average force of the atmosphere at sea level (New York City = 87 ft., San Diego = 13 ft. and Boston = 10 ft.—all close to sea level) is 15 pounds per square inch (almost 2 gallons of milk). Have students repeat their calculations for the pressure at sea level.
• Have students complete the Amount of Air Pressure on a Square - Worksheet 2 , and make predictions for several other squares such as 100 x 100.

For grade 2 students, simplify the psi (pounds per square inch) from 12 to 10 for easier calculations.

Students build and observe a simple aneroid barometer to learn about changes in barometric pressure and weather forecasting.

Air pressure is pushing on us all the time although we do not usually notice it. In this activity, students learn about the units of pressure and get a sense of just how much air pressure is pushing on them.

Students learn about the fundamental concepts important to fluid power, which includes both pneumatic (gas) and hydraulic (liquid) systems.

Students learn about the underlying engineering principals in the inner workings of a simple household object – the faucet. Students use the basic concepts of simple machines, force and fluid flow to describe the path of water through a simple faucet.

Cunningham, J. and Herr, N. Hands-on Physics Activities with Real-Life Application . West Nyack, NY: The Center for Applied Research in Education, p. 188-210, 1994.

Quarter-Inch Graph Paper (printable). Copyright 2000-2004. Teacher Vision, Family Education Network, Pearson Education, Inc. (source of printable graph paper) Accessed on September 17, 2020. http://www.teachervision.com/lesson-plans/lesson-6169.html

Walpole, Brenda. 175 Science Experiments to Amuse and Amaze Your Friends . Random House, p. 72, 1988.

UNESCO. 700 Science Experiments for Everyone . New York, NY: Doubleday, p. 79, 1958.

Your browser is not supported

Sorry but it looks as if your browser is out of date. To get the best experience using our site we recommend that you upgrade or switch browsers.

Find a solution

• Skip to main content
• Skip to navigation

• Back to parent navigation item
• Find resources
• Experiments and investigations
• Cross-curricular activities
• Meet the scientists
• Boost your knowledge
• Beyond the classroom
• Get funding
• About the RSC

• More navigation items

Primary science investigations

• 2 Air pressure and the antigravity bottle
• 3 Air pressure, gases and the leaky bottle
• 4 Dissolving, density and ‘heavy’ sugar
• 5 Fizzy irreversible changes and bath bombs
• 6 Irreversible changes and the ‘fire extinguisher’
• 7 Irreversible changes and the ‘freaky hand’
• 8 Properties of gases, air pressure and ‘sticky’ cups
• 9 Properties of solids and ‘biscuit bashing’
• 10 Viscosity and ‘racing’ liquids
• 11 Freezing and the ‘intriguing ice’ experiment
• 12 Liquids, gases and the ‘lava lamp’

Air pressure, gases and the leaky bottle

• No comments

Try this simple investigation to explore the effects of air pressure

This resource is also available in Welsh and Irish

Get the Welsh language version .

Get the Irish language version .

This experiment focuses on air pressure, and can help develop learners’ understanding of forces, gravity and the properties of air. Watch the video of the ‘leaky bottle’ demonstration below, and then find out how your learners can explore air pressure themselves using rulers and newspaper.

Learning objectives

• To develop a simple definition of pressure in terms of force.
• To develop an awareness that the air around us exerts pressure on the objects it comes into contact with.
• To appreciate, through practical experimentation, that although air pressure is not often felt, its actions can be seen and explained.

Watch the video

The video below shows how to carry out the ‘leaky bottle’ demonstration.

Source: Royal Society of Chemistry

Investigate gases and atmospheric pressure with the Leaky Bottle experiment.

Download the supporting materials

Set up and run the investigation with your class using the teacher notes and classroom slides, featuring a full equipment list, method, key words and definitions, questions for learners, FAQs and more.

• Teacher notes

PDF  |  Editable Word document

Classroom slides

PDF  |  Editable PowerPoint document

DOWNLOAD ALL

What do learners need to know first?

Learners should already know that force is a push or a pull and that area is the space occupied by a flat shape or an object’s surface.

Equipment list

Leaky bottle demonstration (or per group if desired):.

• Plastic water bottle with screw-top lid
• Map/push pin
• Plastic tray to catch excess water
• Water to fill bottle

Main investigation (each group will need):

• 30 cm ruler
• Two identical sheets of newspaper
• Clear table top with a straight edge

Additional resources

• Investigate the affects of air pressure further in our anti-gravity bottle investigation or sticky cups investigation .
• Read up on solids, liquids and gases in this  That’s Chemistry!  textbook chapter .
• Introduce your learners to solids, liquids and gases with our  primary science podcast . 

Leaky bottle: teacher notes

Leaky bottle: classroom slides, additional information.

Primary science investigations were developed in collaboration with the Primary Science Teaching Trust

Air pressure and the antigravity bottle

Dissolving, density and ‘heavy’ sugar

Fizzy irreversible changes and bath bombs

Irreversible changes and the ‘fire extinguisher’

Irreversible changes and the ‘freaky hand’

Properties of gases, air pressure and ‘sticky’ cups

Properties of solids and ‘biscuit bashing’

Viscosity and ‘racing’ liquids

Freezing and the ‘intriguing ice’ experiment

Liquids, gases and the ‘lava lamp’

• Practical experiments
• Properties of matter

Related articles

Particle diagrams | Structure strip | 14–16

By Kristy Turner Five out of five

Support learners to describe and evaluate the particle model for solids, liquids and gases with this writing activity

Illustrate polymer properties with a self-siphoning solution

2024-04-22T05:38:00Z By Declan Fleming

Demonstrate the tubeless siphon with poly(ethylene glycol) and highlight the polymer’s viscoelasticity to your 11–16 learners

Revealing blueberries’ nanostructure

2024-03-22T11:00:00Z By Nina Notman

Find out how microscopic, self-assembling particles give blueberries their characteristic blue hue

No comments yet

Only registered users can comment on this article., more primary science.

Catherine’s chemistry practical skills sessions

Find out how Catherine organised her chemistry practical skills sessions and get tips for applying to the RSC Primary Science Teaching Empowerment Fund

CPD support from the Primary Science Teaching Trust

Explore professional development resources, webinars and support from the Primary Science Teaching Trust.

STEM careers and skills activities

Five out of five

Introduce primary learners to STEM careers and encourage them to explore their own skills. Includes a game, colouring poster, fact files and teaching notes.

• Newsletters
• Find your local education coordinator

Site powered by Webvision Cloud

Balloon and Jar Air Pressure Experiment

by Science Explorers | Mar 29, 2021 | Blog | 0 comments

Air pressure experiments for children are a fun way to introduce kids to a new scientific concept. Kids and adults alike have a blast with this balloon and jar air pressure experiment. The experiment shows children what happens when the air pressure inside a jar changes by using just a few materials. It’s the perfect lesson for elementary school-age children with adult supervision.

Learn more about our virtual and in-person science camps!

What You’ll Need

To perform the experiment, you’ll need:

• Water balloon.
• Piece of paper.

Safety Note

This experiment uses fire. Children must be supervised and should not perform the experiment on their own.

How to Conduct the Experiment

Follow these instructions to suck a water balloon into a jar using air pressure:

• Fill the balloon:   Fill the water balloon until it’s slightly wider than the neck of the jar and tie the balloon.
• Place the balloon on the jar:   Place the jar on a flat surface and rest the balloon on top of the open jar.
• Demonstrate with the water balloon:   Help the kids push down slightly on the balloon to show them it won’t fit inside the jar.
• Remove balloon:   After demonstrating, remove the balloon from the container.
• Get your matches:   Light a piece of paper with a match and drop it in the jar.
• Place the balloon again:   When the fire starts to grow, place the balloon back over the mouth of the jar.
• Watch the reactions:   Observe what happens to the balloon and the fire. The balloon will begin to shake, and the fire will be extinguished as the balloon is sucked into the jar. The balloon will be sucked about halfway into the container.
• Let the kids try:   Once the fire has died and the jar has cooled, have the children try to remove the balloon. It will be a little challenging!
• Safely remove the balloon:   To remove the water balloon from the jar, start by turning the jar sideways. Place your finger between the container and the balloon to release the suction. The balloon should come out easily after that.

Children will love doing this experiment over and over. To make this air pressure experiment even more fun for kids, let each child pick a balloon to decorate before you fill it with water. This allows children to observe any differences between how the balloons behave, such as which balloon was most difficult to remove and which one worked best.

The Science Behind the Experiment

This experiment is all about air pressure. When you first place the filled balloon atop the jar, air pressure prevents you from pushing it inside. The air trapped inside the jar has nowhere to go, since the balloon covers the opening. At this point, the air pressure within the jar is the same as the air pressure outside it, making it impossible to fit the balloon in.

But when you add the lit piece of paper to the jar, things change. The burning paper causes the air inside the jar to heat up and expand. As the fire grows, the air in the jar will start escaping around the sides of the balloon. When the balloon begins shaking that’s how you know the air is escaping.

The balloon acts as a one-way valve, allowing air within the jar to escape but preventing new air from entering. With less air in the jar, the air pressure drops. At this point, the air pressure within the jar is lower than outside it, which causes the balloon to get sucked in.

Learn About Science Summer Camps at Science Explorers

If you’re looking for more fun science activities for your child, we have the perfect programs at Science Explorers. Learn more about our   virtual and in-person summer science camps   and   contact us   for additional information.

Recent Posts

• How to Explore Science at the Playground
• Guide to Funding a School STEM Program
• 5 Earth Science Experiments: Safe, Exciting and Educational
• Beach STEM Activities
• Guide to Sports Science for Children

Recent Comments

• Elementary Science , Interactive Notebooks , Middle School Science , NGSS , Utah SEEd

Air Pressure FREE Resource

Do you want to amaze your students with a fun air pressure experiment? I have a great one for you. You will only need a few materials. You will need a balloon filled with water, a large jar, a small candle or piece of paper and a match.

This great FREE Air Pressure Experiment comes with a bonus file of a free reading passage on air pressure and a free foldable on air pressure.

When you light the item inside the jar the balloon will get sucked into the jar. The kids will love this!

Students will love seeing the water balloon get sucked into the jar! The FREE resource allows you to see a sample of my work. This resource is a science experiment on air pressure. It comes with directions, discussion questions, a lab sheet, a lab follow-up sheet, a short nonfiction article on air pressure and a vocabulary flap for interactive notebooks. All you need for the experiment is a glass jar, water, balloon, paper and a match. This is a REALLY low prep demonstration and it is fun and dramatic to watch.

Get your free resource on air pressure today!

Get this FREE Amazing Air Pressure Experiment!

Get the Lesson

You might also like...

The Fossil Record Middle School Science Unit for Standard NGSS MS-LS4-1

Fossil Evidence of Earth’s History

Middle School NGSS

The Scientific Method and Using Variables Middle School Science Unit

Browse the blog.

feeling Social?

Get teaching tips, resources, and freebies delivered right to your inbox.

Try this free 5 E Lesson on Flower Dissection when you join my newsletter.

Top 10 Air Pressure Experiments: Fun & Easy

Are you ready to be blown away by some exciting air pressure experiments?

Air pressure experiments can be a great way to spark students’ interest in science and encourage them to explore the world around them.

These hands-on experiments help students better understand the properties of air and how it behaves under different conditions, such as changes in pressure or temperature.

1. Balloon-Powered DIY Drink Dispenser

Get ready to impress your guests with your very own balloon-powered drink dispenser and discover the amazing potential of air pressure!

This experiment showcases the principles of air pressure and fluid dynamics, making it an excellent opportunity for students and science enthusiasts to learn about these fundamental concepts in a fun and engaging way.

2. Make A Bottle Rocket

Get ready for lift-off with this exciting experiment that will have you launching your very own bottle rocket! By harnessing the power of air pressure, you can create a simple yet thrilling rocket that flies high into the sky.

Learn more: Make a Bottle Rocket

3. Flying Ping-Pong

With one hand, place the ping-pong ball over the paper cone you’ve made, and with the other, blow a steady stream of air to cause the ball to levitate.

By gaining an understanding of Bernoulli’s principle, students can unlock the potential to design and create innovative solutions to real-world problems in a variety of fields.

Learn more: Bernoulli Principle for Kids

4. Air Pressure and Bottle

Get ready to witness a mind-blowing experiment that showcases the power of air pressure! By simply making a small hole in a plastic bottle and filling it with water, you can witness the incredible effects of air pressure at work.

5. Air-Powered Lift

Get ready to amaze your friends with this exciting experiment! With just a glass, a candle, and a plate, you can lift the plate using nothing but the power of air pressure.

6. Egg in a Bottle

With this exciting experiment using just a bottle, learn about the strength of air pressure! You may produce a variety of fascinating and unexpected effects by adjusting the air pressure inside the bottle.

7. Balloon Air Pressure Experiments

With this exciting experiment using just a bottle, learn about the strength of air pressure! You may produce a variety of fascinating and bizarre outcomes by regulating the air pressure inside the bottle.

Learn more: Balloon in a Bottle

8. Weather: Measuring Air Pressure

Get ready to become a meteorologist with this fascinating experiment that allows you to measure air pressure and predict changes in the weather!

By using a simple barometer made from a glass jar, a balloon, and a straw, you can measure changes in air pressure and use them to predict changes in the weather.\

9. Can Crush

The Can Crush experiment is a great demonstration of the effects of air pressure and it can be a fun and engaging activity for students.

10. DIY Model Lungs-Air Pressure Experiment

The balloon lung experiment is a fascinating demonstration that combines the principles of air pressure and the mechanics of the respiratory system.

Similar Posts:

• 68 Best Chemistry Experiments: Learn About Chemical Reactions
• Top 50 Fun Food Science Experiments
• 37 Water Science Experiments: Fun & Easy

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Save my name and email in this browser for the next time I comment.

Science Fun

Observing Air Pressure Weather Science Experiment

In this fun and easy science experiment, we’re going to explore and investigate weather by observing air pressure. 

Instructions:

• Place the ruler on a table so that two inches hang over the edge.
• Place a double sheet of newspaper over the ruler.
• Align the edge of the newspaper with the edge of the table.
• Strike the edge of the ruler.

EXPLORE AWESOME SCIENCE EXPERIMENT VIDEOS!

How it Works:

When you strike the ruler, the newspaper will not move as the air pressure on the newspaper will hold it down. Air pressure is simply the weight of all the tiny air molecules that press down on you and the Earth. It is this air pressure, or weight of the air molecules, that hold down the newspaper. 

EXPLORE TONS OF FUN AND EASY SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS!

SUBSCRIBE AND NEVER MISS A NEW SCIENCE FUN VIDEO!

previous experiment

Next experiment.

• ASME Foundation
• Sections & Divisions
• Sign In/Create Account

5 Ways to Demonstrate Air Pressure to Children

• Topics & Resources

Date Published:

Nov 22, 2010

Aurora Lipper

This story was updated on 10/11/2022.

Note: when conducting at-home science experiments with children, an adult should always be present. Even the simplest experiments have the potential to go wrong.

The ordinary pressure of the air surrounding us is 14.7 pounds per square inch—but this can change based on a few factors, such as when the wind blows or a car or airplane accelerates. Wherever the air pressure is higher, there will be a stronger force or push against an object. Similarly, when an air particle speeds up, it actually “pushes” less.

Imagine that fast-moving air particles are in so much of a hurry that they don’t have time to apply force—this is the principle used to make airplanes fly. When a plane moves along the runway, the air above the wing speeds up, lowering the pressure so that the air below the wing can push the plane upward.

Interested in testing out these principles in a more tangible way? Try one or more of the following experiments:

Water Glass Trick

Step 1: Fill a cup one-third with water.

Step 2: Cover the entire mouth of the cup with an index card.

Step 3: Holding the card in place, take the cup to the sink and turn it upside down.

Step 4: Remove your hand from underneath.

Voilà! Because the water inside the cup is lighter than the air outside, the card is held in place. This is due to about 15 pounds of force from the air pushing up, while the force of the water pushing down is only about one pound of force.

Fountain Bottle

Step 1: Fill a 2-liter soda bottle half full of water.

Step 2: Take a long straw and insert it into the mouth of the bottle.

Step 3: Wrap a lump of clay around the straw to form a seal.

Step 4: Blow hard into the straw—then stand back.

When you blow into the straw, you’re increasing the air pressure inside the sealed bottle. This higher pressure pushes on the water, forcing it up and out of the straw.

Ping-Pong Funnel

Step 1: Put a ping-pong ball inside the wide part of a funnel.

Step 2: Blow hard into the narrow end of the funnel.

Step 3: You’ll notice that the ball doesn’t pop out of the funnel—but why?

This is because as you blow into the funnel, the air moves faster and lowers the air pressure underneath the ball. Because the air pressure is higher above the ball than below it, it’s pushed down into the funnel—no matter how hard you blow or in which direction you point the funnel.

The Million Dollar Bet

Step 1: Place an empty water or soda bottle down horizontally on a table.

Step 2: Roll a piece of paper towel into a small ball about half the size of the bottle opening.

Step 3: Tell a friend you’ll pay them one million dollars if they can blow the ball into the bottle.

Don’t worry about losing money—because this is impossible. No matter how hard someone tries to force more air into the bottle, there's no room for it. The air will flow right out, pushing away the paper ball.

Kissing Balloons

Step 1: Blow up two balloons and attach a piece of string to each.

Step 2: Place one balloon in each hand, holding them by the string.

Step 3: Position the two balloons so they are at your nose level and six inches apart.

Step 4: Blow hard into the space between the balloons.

As you lower the air pressure in that space between the balloons, the pressure of the surrounding air becomes higher. This automatically pushes the balloons together, causing them to “kiss.”

[Adapted from “Top Ten Air Pressure Experiments to Mystify Your Kids-Using Stuff From Around the House,” by Aurora Lipper, for Mechanical Engineering , January 2008.] Read More: How to Mentor Young Engineers Experiential Learning and Cooperative Education Pay Off Engineering Education, Family Style

Related Content

ASME Membership (1 year) has been added to your cart.

The price of yearly membership depends on a number of factors, so final price will be calculated during checkout.

You are now leaving ASME.org

• Skip to primary navigation
• Skip to main content
• Skip to primary sidebar

• FREE Experiments
• Kitchen Science
• Climate Change
• Egg Experiments
• Fairy Tale Science
• Edible Science
• Human Health
• Inspirational Women
• Forces and Motion
• Science Fair Projects
• STEM Challenges
• Science Sparks Books
• Contact Science Sparks
• Science Resources for Home and School

Air Pressure Demonstration – Drinks Dispenser

February 24, 2019 By Emma Vanstone Leave a Comment

This easy activity is super simple and great for learning about air pressure with a practical use as well!

What is air pressure?

Air and its particles are crashing into us all the time. What we call air pressure is the force of these particles hitting a surface.

When you suck a straw you reduce the pressure inside the straw, making the pressure outside the straw acting on the liquid greater than the pressure inside the straw. This pushes the liquid up the straw, allowing you to drink it!

For this air pressure experiment you’ll need

Peg – optional, but helpful

Plastic bottle – I used a 750ml bottle

Plasticine or putty

Plastic Straw

Small container

How to make an air pressure drinks dispenser

Carefully make a small hole about half way up the bottle and push the straw through the bottle leaving ⅓ to ½ on the outside.

Fill the bottle about three quarters full of water.

Blow up the balloon, twist and seal the neck with a peg. Carefully place the end of the balloon on the bottle neck and place a glass under the straw.

When you’re ready remove the peg and watch as the water shoots out of the straw into the glass!

Be careful as it might shoot out further than you expect.

Why does this happen?

Air presses down equally on the water in the bottle and in the straw when there is no balloon present ( or the balloon is pegged ) but when the peg is removed, air from the balloon increases the air pressure in the bottle which pushes down on the water, forcing it through the straw.

More Air Pressure Experiments

Demonstrate the Bernoulli Principle with this easy demonstration using a plastic bottle and ball of paper.

Suck a boiled egg into a jar without touching it.

Build and launch a bottle rocket !

Last Updated on November 18, 2021 by Emma Vanstone

Safety Notice

Science Sparks ( Wild Sparks Enterprises Ltd ) are not liable for the actions of activity of any person who uses the information in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources. Science Sparks assume no liability with regard to injuries or damage to property that may occur as a result of using the information and carrying out the practical activities contained in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources.

These activities are designed to be carried out by children working with a parent, guardian or other appropriate adult. The adult involved is fully responsible for ensuring that the activities are carried out safely.

Reader Interactions

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

STEM Little Explorers

Knowing through exploring.

Home » Articles » STEM » STEM Science » How to Demonstrate Air Pressure with Balloon

How to Demonstrate Air Pressure with Balloon

How to fit an object through a smaller hole not easy, that is for sure. but we can turn towards science and get some help from atmospheric pressure. so let’s do just that – fit the balloon into the glass jar by using the air pressure, article contents.

What is air pressure or atmospheric pressure?

The pressure that is all around us is called air pressure or atmospheric pressure . We define it as the force exerted on a surface by the air above the object, as the gravity pulls that air towards the ground. Another popular definition: Atmospheric pressure is the force per unit area exerted by the mass of the atmosphere as gravity pulls it to Earth.

We measure atmospheric pressure or barometric pressure with a device called a barometer . The unit we use to measure atmospheric pressure is atm. Atm stands for the standard atmosphere and it’s a unit of pressure defined as 101,325 Pa (pascal). Atm is equal to Earth’s average air pressure at sea level.

We already talked a lot about air pressure in How to Demonstrate Air Pressure with Can Crush Experiment. We suggest you check it out for more information.

What are balloons made of?

Balloon production came a long way from when it was first invented. The first balloons were made from animal intestines and bladders. Nowadays, balloons are made mostly from latex , rubber, and nylon fabric .

These materials are long particles called polymers . Polymers are elastic , which means they will scratch when you pull them and shrink when you let them go. As mentioned, latex, rubber, and nylon fabric are all made of polymers and that is why they are the most popular materials to produce balloons nowadays.

We already talked a lot about balloons in the 5 amazing Balloon experiments article, so check it out to learn more. Also, we recommend you check this great video that shows the industrial process of balloon making .

Required materials for balloon air pressure experiment

• Balloon . Any balloon will do but we recommend using a water balloon. Water balloons are small enough to best fit the jar opening and are designed to be filled with water. Also, they come in packs so you will have some spare balloons if the balloon breaks before the experiment is done.
• Glass Jar . Any glass jar will serve as long as the balloon can fit through the opening. A pickle jar, olives jar, or jam jar will be great for the experiment.
• Lighter or matches . We will need a lighter or matches to set the paper at flame before putting it into the jar. Have some spare matches or enough gas in the lighter if you need to light the fire again since the fire can die out in the jar.
• Piece of paper . Any paper will be great as long as it wants to burn. Not much paper is needed, just enough to fill the bottom of the jar. So the bigger the jar, the bigger piece of paper you will need.
• A glass of water . Since we are dealing with fire, it is always good to have some water by hand. That is why we recommend you have some water in a glass or bottle next to you when conducting this experiment.

Instructions to make balloon air pressure experiment

If you would rather like to watch the “how-to” video for this experiment, we have added the video at the beginning of the article. And for a step-by-step guide, continue reading the instructions below.

Warning : Since this experiment requires some fire, it is strongly recommended to conduct the activity outside, in a safe environment. Also, this activity should be conducted under the supervision of adults for all under-aged children.

• Take the balloon and fill it with water. We need water inside of the balloon so it can withstand the heat from the fire and not explode which can happen with only air inside. A water balloon is the best for this activity since it is made for holding water. Attach the balloon to the water pipe and fill the balloon.
• After the balloon is filled, remove it from the pipe, but don’t tie it up just yet. Take the glass jar and see how the balloon fits the opening . Make sure the balloon can’t fall inside of the jar, but also make sure it is not that much bigger than the opening. You can spill some water out of the balloon if it is too big to make it fit the jar opening better.
• Tie the balloon . This can be tricky but there are many ways we can do this. If you can’t use the balloon end to tie it up around itself, you can use some wool or thin rope to tie the balloon. After tying the balloon, we are ready for the experiment.
• We strongly suggest you go outside for the next steps. There could be smoke and you probably don’t want the smoke indoors.
• Take a piece of paper and light it with matches or a lighter . Make sure the paper is burning and if the fire goes off, light it again. The fire must be burning to create pressure.
• Put the burning paper inside of the glass jar . If the paper is still burning inside, proceed to the next step. If the fire went off, light the paper again.
• Put the balloon on top of the jar opening . Observe what is happening. You will see the balloon being sucked inside of the jar due to created pressure.
• After the balloon is sucked in, we recommend you take a prepared glass or bottle of water and pour some water inside of the jar . This is a safety precaution to make sure there is no more fire.
• And you are done! Now it’s time for discussion about what happened in the experiment.

The science behind the air pressure experiment with a balloon

When we place the inflated balloon or balloon filled with water atop the jar, the balloon won’t fall through the opening. Since the air inside of the jar is preventing it from falling down, and the balloon covers the whole opening, it will just sit atop the jar. At this time, the air pressure is the same inside, and outside of the jar.

To get the balloon sucked into the jar, we need to create the difference in air pressure . When we start the fire inside the jar, the temperature rises and the air inside gets warm . Warm air spreads more and is less dense, which means the pressure decreases since the air gets warmer.

When we put the balloon on top of the jar, we prevent new air from coming inside of the jar . The balloon acts as a one-way barrier , preventing new air to come in but letting the hot air go out. As the air inside of the jar gets warmer, it will escape the jar, but new air won’t come in. If you see a balloon shake, that means the hot air is coming out and shaking the balloon. 

And as more air goes out of the jar, the difference in air pressure becomes higher – low pressure inside of the jar and higher pressure outside of the jar.

And since the pressures want to achieve equilibrium again, the balloon is sucked in until the air outside can again find some way to enter the jar – by pushing the balloon inside of the jar and opening the hole for the free flow of air again.

What will you learn and what skills will you develop?

• Learning about air pressure . You will learn about what is air pressure, differences in air pressure, and how to demonstrate different air pressures. Also, you will see what happens when air pressure is out of balance.
• Learn about balloons . You will learn about balloon properties and the materials they are made of which is all part of the chemistry knowledge.
• Conducting scientific experiments . Demonstrating air pressure with a balloon is a scientific method and you will learn how to plan, prepare, conduct experiments, and in the end analyze and draw conclusions.
• Develop judgment and critical thinking . By talking about procedure and results, we develop our analytical thinking and judgment. We can also discuss what can be done differently and further develop our divergent thinking .
• Build awareness about needed safety precautions . You will build awareness and learn about safety measurements that we should always take when doing experiments. In our case, to go outside and have water close by since we were making fire.

We hope you enjoyed this experiment and learned something new about atmospheric pressure. If you’re interested in more similar activities and fun experiments, we have some recommendations:

• As already mentioned, if you want to demonstrate air pressure with one more activity, you can try the Can Crush Experiment .
• Another great way to see how air pressure works is by getting the water raise. You can see how to do that in the Candle in the vacuum experiment .
• And if you just want more balloon activities, we have plenty more in 5 amazing Balloon experiments article.
• We also recommend another interesting and simple experiment to demonstrate buoyancy with the Orange density experiment .

We wish you happy and successful experimentation! But no pressure 😉

If you’re searching for some great STEM Activities for Kids and Child development tips, you’re in the right place! Check the Categories below to find the right activity for you.

STEM Science

Videos, guides and explanations about STEM Science in a step-by-step way with materials you probably already have at your home. Find new Science ideas.

STEM Technology

Videos, guides and explanations about STEM Technology in a step-by-step way with materials you probably already have at your home. Find new Technology ideas.

STEM Engineering

Videos, guides and explanations about STEM Engineering in a step-by-step way with materials you probably already have at your home. New Engineering ideas!

Videos, guides and explanations about STEM Math in a step-by-step way with materials you probably already have at your home. Find new Mathematics ideas.

Find out all about development psychology topics that you always wanted to know. Here are articles from child psychology and development psychology overall.

First year of Child’s Life

Following a Child’s development every month from its birth. Personal experiences and tips on how to cope with challenges that you will face in parenting.

2 thoughts on “ How to Demonstrate Air Pressure with Balloon ”

• Pingback: How To Make Anti-Stress Ball with Balloon and Flour
• Pingback: 5 Amazing Balloon Experiments - STEM Little Explorers

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Get Fresh news from STEM fields

I'm not interested in STEM

Choose an Account to Log In

Notifications

Science project, break a ruler using newspaper and atmospheric pressure.

In those rare moments when we actually think about the air around us, we typically think of the oxygen that allows us to breathe. But did you know that oxygen makes up only 21% of the Earth’s atmosphere? The rest is composed of nitrogen, argon, carbon dioxide, varying amounts of water vapor, and trace amounts of many other gases. These gasses form our atmosphere, a layer of air that is 80 miles thick. Like any type of matter, the gases in air have mass , and since Earth’s gravity causes the atmosphere to press down on the Earth’s surface, we call this force atmospheric pressure . Pressures are expressed in force per unit area. At sea level, the 80-mile column of air exerts a pressure of 15 lbs per square inch ( psi ). We don’t usually notice the earth’s atmosphere pressing down on us, because we’ve lived with it our entire lives! However, this cool science experiment can help us appreciate just how powerful air pressure is.

How can we see and feel the power of air pressure?

• Smooth table in a clear area
• Safety goggles
• Flimsy wooden ruler, yardstick, or meter stick (about 1/8 inch thick)
• First, set your ruler or meter stick on the table. If you’re using a wooden ruler, allow about five inches of the ruler to protrude over the edge of the table.  If you are using a yardstick or meter stick, make sure it is thin enough, and allow 12 to 16 inches of it to hang off the edge of the table. 
• Place a piece of double-folded newspaper over part of the meter stick that is on the table.
• What do you think will happen when strike the stick with a karate chop?
• Locate a spot on the meter stick a couple inches beyond where it protrudes off the table.
• Using the side of your palm, try to chop the stick in two using a knifehand (“karate chop”) strike. Don’t use your hand to brace the meter stick!
• Next, unfold the newspaper and cover the stick with one or two sheets of newspaper. Smooth the paper over the stick so that there are no air pockets. Again, make sure the appropriate length of stick extends over the edge of the table.
• Predict what you think will happen this time when you strike the meter stick.
• Give the meter stick your best strike (again, no bracing allowed!).

During the first chop, the ruler probably flew off the table and didn’t break. During the second chop, you may have managed to chop the stick in two!  (If you didn’t get this result for the second chop, try again, making sure that your newspaper lies perfectly smooth and that you strike cleanly.)

You were able to chop the stick in two because of air pressure. When you spread out the newspaper on top of the stick, you basically created a large suction cup because you’re preventing air from flowing underneath. When you strike the ruler, it tries to lift up against the newspaper, but because the air can’t flow very quickly into the space between the table and the newspaper, most of it simply pushes down on the newspaper (and the ruler).

Suppose you had 8 inches of ruler covered by the newspaper. If the ruler were one inch wide, that would mean that the area is 8 square inches.  Remember that the 80 mile column of air above us presses down at 15 pounds per square inch. That means your stick had 120 pounds of pressure holding it down while you chopped (This isn’t a perfect explanation, but it should give you a rough idea of what’s going on). The point is that when the ruler tries to lift off of the table, it has to push against all 120 of those pounds .

If you live at a higher altitude, the air pressure is a bit less.  For instance, citizens of the mile high city of Denver, Colorado have a shorter column of air (about 79 miles) pressing down on them—but it’s still more than enough pressure to hold the stick down.

Going Further

There are lots more experiments showing the power of air pressure. Air pressure can push an egg into a bottle orr crush a can .

Related learning resources

Add to collection, create new collection, new collection, new collection>, sign up to start collecting.

Bookmark this to easily find it later. Then send your curated collection to your children, or put together your own custom lesson plan.

• Login | Register

Have 10% off on us on your first purchase - Use code NOW10

Free shipping for orders over $100

Available for dispatch within 2 days

Free gift with purchase of over $100

Check out with Paypal and Afterpay

Teaching ideas for air pressure

Follow FizzicsEd Articles:

Air pressure can be a difficult concept for learners to grasp. As air is invisible and is three-dimensional, it can be a challenge to understand what is going on without some concrete examples. To help with this, the following is a list of a bunch of experiments that you can do to help students understand more about air pressure!

Air pressure experiments that use simple materials

Air takes up space.

The pressure exerted by the air inside the glass allows the air to exclude the water and the ping pong ball. Push down all the way to bottom of the container. Using the tissue helps to show that air, not water, is trapped inside the glass. Great guessing game if you ask the class where they think the ball will go!

Upside-down water cup

Make sure your cup is completely full, i.e. about to spill over the side. Gently place a dry card or paper on top of the cup… making sure there is good contact over the cup rim. Carefully turn the cup upside down! The air pressure underneath the cup pushes that paper upwards into the cup, keeping the water from falling.

Balloon push-in

• Put a funnel into a glass bottle and put hot water into the bottle.
• Wait 10 seconds and then pour the water back into the kettle
• Place a balloon over the neck of the glass bottle.
• Place the bottle in the clear plastic container with cold water in it.
• Stretch the balloon slightly and wait for the balloon to be squeezed together by the air pressure.
• Let go of the balloon and it will be pushed into the bottle

Misconception: people often think the balloon is ‘sucked’ into the bottle… its the opposite effect actually as it is pushed from high to low pressure.  SAFETY: Make sure that students are not near the demonstration to avoid accidental scalding.  Similar to the egg into the bottle experiment!

Impossible puff

Place a ping pong ball in the funnel. Have a volunteer try to blow the ball out of the funnel (it’s impossible). Now blow across the top of the funnel and it will come straight out. This shows the Bernoulli theorem in action whereby the ball is pushed from slow air (high pressure) toward where the air moving fastest (low pressure).

Ping pong on a string

Tape a string onto a ping pong ball and hold near a stream of running water. The ping pong ball will move towards the fast running water. This again shows the Bernoulli theorem in action whereby the ball is pushed from slow air (high pressure) toward where the air moving fastest (low pressure).

Blow them apart

Tie string around the end of balloons and suspend them near each other. Have a student try to blow the balloons apart… it’s impossible! In your experiment, a low-pressure area was created between the balloons when you tried to blow them apart. The faster air moved between the balloons, creating a low-pressure zone between the balloons. The high pressure surrounding the balloons pushed the balloons together.

Bernoulli bag blow up

Fast air from your breath into the bag will draw slow air from around the room into the bag as per Bernoulli’s theorem (fast air is low pressure, slow air is high pressure). Keep your face 30cm away from bag opening. Be careful not to pop bag when you close the bag and squeeze the opening to tighten the bag.

Rising water

Cover a lit candle sitting in a bowl of water with a glass cup. Watch the water rise into the cup. If you want, you can add food colouring into the water to make the experiment more visible. During the experiment, you can see tiny bubbles escaping under the glass which shows that the air pressure is increased from the heated air as the candle burns. Once the candle runs out of oxygen, the candle burns out and the remaining air inside cools down. Cooling air contracts which lowers the air pressure inside the cup. This created a pressure difference between the air inside the cup and air outside the cup. This pressure difference caused the high-pressure air outside the cup to push the water down into the plate… allowing the water to be pushed upwards into the inside of the cup towards the lower pressure air inside.

Cartesian diver

Cut the end off of a plastic pipette and add two 5mm metal nuts onto the end of the bulb. Add this to a plastic bottle filled water and squeeze on the bottle… the pipette diver sinks! Squeezing the bottle exerts a pressure throughout the contained fluid. This pressurised fluid rises into the opening at the bottom, making the pipette heavy and therefore it sinks. Releasing the bottle reduces the pressure around the pipette, allowing the trapped air inside the pipette to expand, increasing its buoyancy and allowing it to float.

Ball levitator

Have a volunteer choose to hold either the leaf blower or the ball. Turn on the leaf blower and place the ball into the fast air. The ball will initially be pushed by the force of the air but not so far as to be completely pushed away. This is due to the air furthest from the leaf blower being slow air (high pressure), which pushes the ball back toward the blower. You can angle it at 45 degrees before gravity pulls it to the ground. A hairdryer and a ping pong ball also works!

Flying toilet paper

Place a toilet paper roll on a paint roller. Aim the paint roller with toilet paper at a target and position leaf blower over toilet paper surface. Air travels faster over the top of a wing than the bottom. Why? The upper surface of a wing is longer than the bottom of the wing.  According to Bernoulli, fast travelling fluids and gasses have a lower pressure than slow-moving fluid and gases.

Teaching air pressure with a bell jar

Balloon in a bell jar.

Explain parts of the mechanism (vacuum pump, bell jar, rubber diaphragm, tubing etc).

• Blow up a balloon and place in the bell jar.
• Turn on the vacuum pump and watch the balloon expand.
• Turn the valve flowing to the vacuum pump and then turn off the vacuum pump (CRITICAL, otherwise you will pull hydraulic fluid into the hose due to low pressure in the bell jar).
• Disconnect the hose from the vacuum pump
• Open the valve to bell jar and watch the balloon deflate.

Air moves from high to low pressure. The balloon has higher air pressure inside it as the air is pulled from the jar therefore it expands and pushes the balloon outward. Try making a balloon dog and placing it in the bell jar!

Expand shaving cream in a bell jar

Put a small amount of shaving cream in a plastic shot glass and then place into bell jar. Turn on the vacuum pump and watch it expand! Shaving cream has a lot of tiny bubbles in it. Decreasing the pressure around the cream causes the bubbles to expand from high to low pressure.

Marshmallows in a bell jar

Try putting some marshmallows and toothpicks together to make a growing marshmallow man in a bell jar!

Boil water in a bell jar

• Place ½ cup of warm water in clear plastic cup
• Put a cup into the bell jar
• Turn on the vacuum pump
• Water will boil after 1 minute or so

Boiling is not just about temperature. As you remove pressure some of the water molecules are able to change to gas as there is less pressure holding them in a liquid state. If you run this for several hours you can turn the water to ice!

Happy teaching,

Ben Newsome

Love Science? Subscribe!

Receive more lesson plans and fun science ideas.

SCIENCE PARTIES

Calendar of events.

HIGH SCHOOL Science@Home 4-Week Membership 12PM: March 2024

Price: $50 - $900

PRIMARY Science@Home 4-Week Membership 2PM: March 2024

Light and Colour Online Workshop, Jan 18 PM

Light and colour online workshop, jan 18 am.

Lego Robotics, Sydney Olympic Park Jan 2024

Creative Coding, Sydney Olympic Park Jan 2024

Creative Coding, Sydney Olympic Park July 11 2023

Price: $100

Fizzics Education STEAM Day: Robots vs Dinosaurs, Lalor, Apr 14

Price: $45 - $50

Creative Coding, Sydney Olympic Park April 14 2023

Science@home after school 4-week membership: march 2023.

Price: $40 - $1200

Featured Articles

2023 uts chancellor’s award for excellence – ben newsome.

• Cooking [3]
• Remote Education [18]
• Virtual Excursions [9]
• Inclusive education [6]
• Leadership [1]
• Electricity [1]
• Agritech [1]
• Dinosaurs [7]
• Kids Parties [5]
• Robotics [10]
• Edutech [26]
• Classroom management [1]
• video conference [1]
• special needs [1]
• scholarship [1]
• Distance Education [51]
• Kitchen Chemistry [7]
• Distance Learning [19]
• Student encouragement [2]
• Agriculture [4]
• Eastershow [2]
• Maker Space [11]
• Scicomm [141]
• primary education [46]
• virtual [2]
• gamification [1]
• Asia Pacific [1]
• Edchat [223]
• literacy [7]
• Higher education [4]
• Child online safety [1]
• Esports [1]
• Augmented Reality [4]
• Edtech [68]
• Science [6]
• secondary education [45]
• teacher [1]
• biotechnology [1]
• curriculum [2]
• AussieED [1]
• Education [211]
• Museums [31]
• Science News [4]
• Christmas [1]
• Vacation care [1]
• computational thinking [2]
• Awards [14]
• Educhange [5]
• Social Media [8]
• experiments [6]
• middle school [2]
• Inquiry-based learning [5]
• digital technologies [5]
• Earth science [1]
• Big History [1]
• Environment [38]
• seasonal [1]
• Artificial Intelligence [3]
• Medicine [1]
• Biology [44]
• Events [45]
• National Science Week [3]
• Space Science [31]
• competitions [13]
• Sustainability [11]
• Student investigation [2]
• Social Emotional Learning [1]
• CAST test [1]
• Farming [1]
• Outdoors [36]
• careers [10]
• UN SDGs [4]
• collaboration [1]
• Engineering [4]
• US Education [1]
• Outreach [35]
• Physics [6]
• K to 2 education [1]
• Virtual reality [2]
• citizen science [1]
• Churchill Fellowship [19]
• Ozscied [2]
• Teaching [264]
• Chemistry [5]
• International [1]
• Photography [1]
• numeracy [1]
• Cleveland [1]
• Podcasts [119]
• Television [2]
• design thinking [8]
• Chinese student visits [1]
• Parenting [4]
• preservice teaching [5]
• Higher order thinking [1]
• History [4]
• Pop Culture [4]
• Toys & Gadgets [1]
• project-based learning [5]
• Science & Technology Camps [1]
• Lesson ideas [1]
• Philosophy [1]
• Coding [14]
• Indigenous [3]
• Preschool [24]
• Video Conferencing [40]
• Lab Tech [1]
• Pakistan [1]

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

School Comments View All

Fizzics Education curated a thoughtful and hands-on experience for the children, incorporating practical, skill-based learning activities and followed by a science presentation at the end of the event involving liquid nitrogen. This was delivered safely and effectively, capturing both the children and the parents for the duration of the presentation.

Fizzics Education ran a show today at our school and it was wonderful. He was a great facilitator and the show was age appropriate and well done.

I just wanted to pass on how much the staff and students really enjoyed it and how perfect it was to launch our science week activities. The students were enthralled, educated and entertained – a perfect trifecta!

Thanks so much for presenting at our school on Monday. Our students enjoyed the show.

Fizzics Education Awards

• Free Resources

Free Chemistry Book! Sign-up to our newsletter and receive a free book!

Female Accountant Apply Here

Physics teacher apply here, science teacher apply here, view all vacancies, join our team apply here.

Send us an Email at [email protected]

Phone Number: 1300 856 828

Email: [email protected], address: unit 10/55 fourth ave blacktown, nsw 2148, australia.

• Privacy & Legal Policy
• Copyright Notice
• Terms of Trade
• Cookie Policy

Copyright 2024 Fizzics Education . All rights reserved.

This website uses cookies to improve user experience. By using our website you consent to all cookies in accordance with our Cookie Policy .

Get more science with our newsletter!

Thank you for looking to subscribing to our newsletter 🙂 Through this service you’ll be first to know about the newest free experiments, science news and special offers.

PLUS: Get a free Kitchen Chemistry Booklet with >20 experiments, how to use variables plus a handy template!

Click the image to preview

Please select an ebook!

Kids Edition

Parent Edition

Teacher Edition

Please fill out the details below and an email will be sent to you. Once you get that just click on the link to confirm your subscription and you're all done!

First Name *

Last Name *

Email Address *

Phone Number

Subscribe as a Teacher?

Preschool Teacher

Primary Teacher

High School Teacher

Vacation Care or Library

Subscribe as a Parent?

Enquiry Form

Extra things, products that might interest you.

Rainbow Fireworks Glasses

Magic Crystal Tree Science Kit

Helicopter Spiral Top

Fly Back Glider

• Grade Level

Where are you located?

• New South Wales
• Australian Capital Territory

Location not listed?

Which grade level are you teaching.

• Special School Events
• Early Childhood
• Kindergarten
• Whole School
• Teacher Professional Development

Which broad syllabus outcome you want to teach?

What is the age range of the attendee?

• Age 5 and up
• Age 6 and up
• Age 7 and up
• Age 8 and up
• Age 9 and up
• Age 10 and up
• Age 11 and up
• Age 12 and up

General Enquiry Form

Check if you require a live online class.

Subscribe for special offers & receive free resources?

How did you hear about us?

Choose a program *

Choose from school show *

* Please select a value!

* Please add a value!

Date required *

Time required *

Is that sheet of newspaper really that heavy?

Air Pressure Newspaper Experiment

Many of the versions in other books say to use a “ruler” but you should NOT use a ruler . Many rulers today have a wire edge. If the ruler breaks the wire edge can cut you or whoever hits the stick. I use wooden paint sticks that I get at lumber stores. They give the sticks out free and I can get dozens to use for this experiment. These sticks are also made of a fairly soft wood and work well for this experiment. If you are working with older students you should have them wear goggles. If they do break the stick the pieces can fly around. When I do this I move the students near the front of the class back and out of the way. Small children should not be hitting the stick hard attempting to break the stick. Their tiny hand bones could break. They can quickly push on the stick and feel the pressure. Above the paper there is actually about two tons of air (about 15 pounds per square inch.) It will move out of the way if the stick is pushed slowly, but can not move out of the way quickly.

In a high school class there is no shortage of students that want to come up to the front of the room and try to break the stick, but again be careful you do not want a student hurt by this experiment. I demonstrate this experiment first and have selected one or two students to try this. I warn them about the dangers of using some other wood which could be much stronger. You may want to try this first to see just how much force is required. It is not necessary to hit it so hard that the stick breaks to get the idea of the air pressure on the paper.

One time I had a large football player come up and he wanted to break the stick. His hands were large and muscular and I let him try. He completely missed the stick on the first try which cause a great deal of laughter. Of course he quickly tried again and easily broke the stick and redeemed his honor. In all of the experiments that I did in the classroom I tried to have some that were exciting but made every effort to keep them safe.

Others are Reading

• Print Article

People Who Read This Also Read:

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Prove You\'re Human * seven − = 6