I hope the Festival has not taken place ye, and these ideas will help you.
Investigation 1. Can you feel air?
(a) Stretch your hands out and swing them quickly. Did you feel anything?
(b) Now take a piece of paper and swing your arms again. What happens to the paper?
Investigation 2
(a) Blow into a balloon or plastic bag then tie the top of it or hold it tight.
(b) Feel the balloon with your hands. What is inside the bag or balloon?
(c) Untie the bag or balloon, squeeze it abd hold it near to your cheek.
i. what did you feel as you squeezed it?
ii. Can you squeeze out all of what is inside?
iii. What do you think will happen if you open the ballon or bag again?
iv. Did you see what came out?
v. What colour was it?
In investigation 1 what you felt was air. The paper folded because up because the air was pushing against it.
In investigation 2you were not able to see the air because it has no colour. However you were able to feel itas it came out of the balloon or plastic bag.
Air is all around us.
Investigation 1 : Does Air occupy space?
Things needed. basin, water,glass
1. Pour some water half way up in the basin.
2.Take the empty glass, turn it upside down and push it into the basin waith the water.
What have you observed?
Investigation 2
1. Take the glass out of the water and turn it upside down again
2. Push it completely into the water
3. Turn the mouth of the glass upwards.
What have you noticed?
In the first Investigation the level of water in the glass did not rise up to the level of the bowl. This shows that there is something in the glass occupying the space.
In Investigation 2 the bubbles escaping are bubbles of air. When all the air escapes the water fills the glass completely. This shows that the space in the glass was occupied by air.
Air has weight
Things needed: a piece of wire or stick 30 cm long, 2 balloons of same size, 3 pieces of string 25 cm long
1. Blow up the balloons until they are big.
2. Use two pieces os string to tie the neck of each balloon.
3.Tie one balloon to each end of the stick or wire.
4.Use the other string to tie the middle of the stick or wire.
5. Try to get the stick or wire to balance
6 Use a pair of scissors to slit the neck of one the balloons
What happened? Whaich end of the stick is heavier? Why is it heavier?
This shows that air has weight even though we cannot see it.