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Activity (Hands-On)Grades 4 - 6

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

Students gain an understanding of air pressure by using candy or cookie wafers to model how it changes with altitude, by comparing its magnitude to gravitational force per unit area, and by observing its magnitude with an aluminum can crushing experiment. Three student worksheets (and answer keys) are provided.

A series of three photographs: A plastic soda bottle sealed at 14,000 feet (left), taken down to 9000 feet (middle) and then 1000 feet (right), on the Mauna Kea observatory on the island of Hawaii. From left to right, the bottle becomes crushed (imploded, collapsed), as a result of the change in air pressure.Students investigate the changes in air pressure with altitude.

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.

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