WHY? Activity 1:   It is difficult to lift the newspaper because of the weight pressing down on it. This weight is called air pressure and it pushes down about 14 pounds per square inch. This is called the psi.   Activity 2:   When you balance the balloons the first time, the balloons will balance equally. The temperature of the air inside the balloons is the same. When you cool 1 balloon and heat another balloon, you will notice a change. The balloons, when balanced, do not balance the same as the first. The cold balloon will lower while the warm balloon will rise. This happens because warm air is lighter or less dense than cold air. Cold air is more dense, therefore heavier. ASSESSMENT: Can the student communicate what they observed?

Student is able to communicate that air pressure pushes down on as at about 14 pounds per square inch. Student also is able to communicate that cold air is more dense than warm air which causes one balloon to rise and one to fall when balanced. Student is able to communicate that a force is pushing on the paper preventing the ruler to lift the paper. Student is also able to communicate that warm air will rise and cold air will fall. Student will communicate that the ruler is being pushed down by the paper. Student is also able to communicate that different air will make one balloon rise. Student will communicate that the ruler cannot lift the paper. Student will also communicate that one balloon was made cold and one balloon was made warm.

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Last modified: Sun Aug 10 18:00:59 PDT 1997

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