Miss. LB
10/24/10
Atmospheric Pressure
A. Purpose:
This
experiment is showing that the atmospheric pressure is exerting pressure on
everything that it comes in contact with. It is showing that even on a
soda can there is pressure. The objective is meant to show how this
pressure is exerted on objects. The soda can is a great example of this
pressure because it is easy to find and easy to see.
The experiment helps an understanding about what cannot be seen but rather
felt. It’s a pressure that is constantly
everywhere. The pressure is called
Atmospheric Pressure. This pressure
could kill a person because of its exertion, but the way God designed us, we
hardly feel a thing. But how do we measure atmospheric pressure? The answer is a barometer, which has some
liquid called mercury in a glass tube.
The pressure is pushing down on the mercury and forcing it up the small
glass tube, this is a great way to measure atmospheric pressure.
If this experiment goes well then when the hot can is turned over in the ice
cold water the can should instantly crumple.
This will give a greater understanding about Atmospheric Pressure.
The experiment will be short but very helpful.
Hopefully, the experiment will go well and produce the right amount of
pressure on the can.
This topic about atmospheric pressure is important to science because
atmospheric pressure cannot be seen. However it can be felt. Should
the experiment succeed then an understanding about this pressure can be
gained. So if atmospheric pressure cannot be seen, heard, tasted, or
smelled than how do we know it even exists.
The experiment shows that there is such a thing as atmospheric pressure,
the can that will crumple, only crumpled because there was a pressure exerting
force on it.
Hypothesis: If the can is hot enough and the water is cool enough, then
the can should almost instantly crumple.
B. Equipment:
1. A stove
2. A frying pan
3. Two empty, 12-ounce aluminum cans (like soda pop cans)
4. Two bowls
5. Water
6. Ice cubes
7. Tongs
8. Eye protection, such as goggles or safety glasses
C. Procedure:
1. Put a small amount of water in each of the aluminum
can. Use only enough to cover the bottom of the can with a small amount
of water. The more water used, the longer the experiment will take, and
the less dramatic the effect.
2. Place the two aluminum cans in the frying pan so that they stand up.
3. Put the frying pan on the stove and turn the heat up to
"high." This will heat up the water in the cans.
4. While waiting for the water in the cans to heat up, fill each bowl
half full with water.
5. Place a few ice cubes in each bowl so that the water becomes ice cold.
6. Wait for steam to start rising out the opening of each can. That
will tell you the water inside is boiling vigorously.
7. Once a steady stream of steam is coming out of each can, use the tongs
to grab one can and place it upright in one of the bowls of water.
8. Note what happens.
9. Use the tongs to grab the other can and place it upside down in the
bowl of water.
10. Note what happens.
11. Clean up your mess.
D. Observations:
1. The aluminum cans took a while to heat up.
2. There was not enough water in the cans, so the second (upside down)
can did not crumple at all. So the experiment had to be repeated.
3. The pan used in the experiment was hot and so it smelled like stinky
burning metal.
4. There was a lot a steam when the cans finally got hot.
5. Putting three ice cubes in the bowls worked well for chilling the
water.
6. Using long tongs made it easier to grab a hold of the cans.
7. The first can took a few moments to cool down.
8. When the first can was placed upright in the bowl of iced water there
was no dramatic effect, but when the second can was placed upside down in the
other bowl of iced water the can instantly crumpled.
9. Grabbing the can from the middle made it easier to turn over.
10. Standing back and away from the bowl was a good idea because of the instant
reaction from the aluminum can.
E. Conclusions:
The above hypothesis was supported. That when the hot can
touched the cold water the can instantly crumpled. This happened because
the steam that was rising out of the can was replaced by iced water and it
created a seal so the air was quickly compressed and crumpled the
can. Because the experiment was successful an understanding was
gained about atmospheric pressure.
How might the above experiment be improved? Well the experiment could
have been improved by adding a set amount of water: instead of "Put a small amount of water
in each aluminum can," it could say "Put 1 tablespoon in each
aluminum can." It could say "Hold can upright if not, it will
tip over." Also, pulling out all the ice cubes helped the second can
crumple. And finally using long tongs helped the process of grabbing cans
from the hot pan.
Ideas the experiment generated for further research. Studying a barometer
would give an even greater understanding about the atmospheric pressure.
It would be interesting to study further the different results on different
objects that are affected by a pressure. Looking in books would be a
great source of further research, also building a barometer would be a great
way to constantly watch the pressure at different times and seasons.
F. Bibliography:
Domain: http://en.wikipedia.org
Document: /wiki/Atmospheric_Pressure
Domain: http://www.ace.mmu.ac.uk
Document: /eae/weather/older/pressure.html
Domain: http://en.wikipedia.org
Document: /wiki/Barometer
Rosenoff, Steven. Classroom Lecture.
October 26, 2010
Wile, Dr. Jay L. Exploring Creation
with Physical Science, 2nd Edition. Apologia Educational Ministries, Inc. 2007