How does the depth of water affect its pressure? Did you know that this same phenomenon is associated with air? While we don't think of ourselves as living at the bottom of a sea of air, we do! This can be a helpful mental picture when trying to understand air pressure.
Use this to learn and reinforce answers to questions such as:
❑ How does depth of water relate to water pressure?
❑ How can we show water pressure visually?
❑ How does air pressure compare to water pressure?
Once students work through the activity, they can capture their observations using the included Lab Notes or probing questions included in the instructions.
Concepts Addressed
♦ Since air has mass it must have weight
♦ Gravity keeps air near earths surface
♦ It's the weight of air (or water) above you that causes pressure
♦ The weight of air or water produces pressure; more weight = more pressure.
♦ Water (and air) pressure increases with depth
Answer Keys and Teacher Notes address most questions and issues that might arise in this study—you shouldn’t have to do any outside research unless you want to.
Materials Needed Nonconsummables: Plastic bottles (with caps); push pin for making holes. Copies of directions can be placed into page protectors or laminated.
Prep Time Collect materials; Poke holes in plastic bottles.
Teaching Time About 40 mins depending on accompanying writing assignment.
Student Sheets Scaffolded writing prompts & lab reporting
