A-3 Air is a Substance

Part 1 Discussion Is air (or gas) real stuff like liquid or solid, or is it really nothing at all? How are these solids (any two or more items at hand) different? How are these liquid (any two or more items at hand) different?

All solids and liquids take up and occupy space and they all have weight. Guide them to this by demonstrating that two solids and liquids cannot be in the same place at the same time. One pushes the other out of the way. They may mix but each takes up its own space. They both have weight, so if they are mixed the weight will be the total of the individual weights. Activity: Measure the weight and volumes of two solids/liquids put together. Does gas/air occupy space and have weight? In science answers are determined by evidence derived from investigation. So, lets investigate? Part 2 Does Air Occupy Space? 1. Blow up a balloon. Why is air pushing out the side of the balloon? Would this occur if air were empty space? 2. Take an open, empty, clear plastic soda bottle and stick it in a pan of water, open end down. Water will not enter. Why not? Is air taking up space in the bottle? Poke a small hole in the bottom of the bottle so the air can escape. Water now enters the bottle. Air, Like Solids and Liquids does occupy space.

Part 3 Does Air have weight? Demonstration: 1. Tape 3 papers clips to a 12 ruler at 0, 6 and 12 so that the paper clip protrudes just beyond the edge of the ruler. (6 should be opposite side of 0 and 12). 2. Attach string to the centre loop and use it to dangle the straight edge off the edge of a table, so it hangs like a balance. 3. With two equal pieces of string attach a new deflated balloon lightly to the end of the loops. Adjust ruler so balance hangs level. 4. Blow up 1 balloon to its full capacity, and reattach.

Children observe the inflated balloon pulls its end of the balance. Draw children to reason how the balloon and everything else is the same. Thus the heavier weight of the inflated balloon must be the weight of the Air.

When we fell wind or fan ourselves, what is it we are feeling? When we breathe, what is it that we are pulling in and out of our lungs? When we blow out a candle, what are we sending against the flame?

Helium Balloons are similar to a floatable object e.g. Wood block. It is not weightless, it only weighs less than the water, hence it floats. Likewise Helium, weighs less than air. Thus, it floats toward the atmosphere. Hot Air Balloons: hot air weighs less than cooler air which results in the hot air floating upwards.

Activity: Book illustrating attributes of air. Air occupies space Air has weight Air is a real substance Gases are one of the categories of matter. Gases share attributes with solids and Liquids.