Science Area: Earth Science

Concept: 4.4 Air is found in every place that is not filled by some other material.                                                                               

Materials: Empty water bottle

     Deflated balloon

State Goals:        

11.A.1f: Compare observations of individual and group results.

11.A.2d: Use data to produce reasonable explanations.

11.A.1a: Describe an observed event.

Safety Considerations: Do not play with the straws.

Science Process Skills:

Comparison, communication, experimentation, observation and predicting

Procedures:

Procedure 1

Stretch open the end of the balloon over the mouth of the bottle.

Blow up the balloon while it's inside the bottle.

Procedure 2

Insert the straw and the balloon into the plastic bottle.

Blow into the mouth of the balloon.

Explanation:

Explanation 1

No matter how hard you try to blow, you won't be able to blow up the balloon while it is inside the bottle. This is because the plastic bottle is already full of air. Even though it's invisible, air takes up space. Explanation 2

When you blow the balloon inside the bottle, it pushes against the air inside the bottle. The air inside the bottle is pushed out the straw because of the pressure from the inflated balloon.

Source:

(Information and picture)

VanCleve, Janice (1996).  Janice VanCleve’s 202 Oozing, Bubbling, Dripping & Bouncing Experiments.  New York: John Wiley & Son’s, Inc. pg.53.