What's Hiding in the Air?
What is hiding in the air?Copyright Pixabay https://pixabay.com/en/dandelions-woman-blowing-wind-609253/
Students develop an understanding of the effects of invisible air pollutants with a rubber band and hanger air test and a bean plant experiment. They also learn about methods of reducing invisible air pollutants.
Since we all realize how invisible air pollutants make the air dangerous for people to breathe, some engineers make it their specialty to design vehicles, machines and manufacturing plants that emit the fewest pollutants as possible. In the US, the EPA sets emissions standards that businesses must meet to operate and engineers must follow as guidelines. An excess of pollutants can cause acid rain, a lowering of the pH of rainwater, which upsets a balanced environment and destroys agriculture and healthy vegetation.
After this activity, students should be able to:
- Identify the major types of invisible air pollutants and how they affect our health.
- Conduct a simple invisible air pollutant test.
- Explain how pollutants from the air can affect water and plant growth.
- Describe how engineers address invisible air pollution.