100 Days of Science-- #3 Learning About Air Molecules

We had so much fun with our quick science experiment on Bernoulli's principle last week that we decided to try another fun experiment this week.  I'm really loving this 100 Days of Science Challenge! 

This time we talked all about air molecules, how they move, what makes them speed up and slow down, etc.

The only supplies we needed were:

• empty water bottle
• latex balloon
• freezer
• warm water 

First we stretched the balloon over the top of our water bottle and made sure to take note of what both the balloon and the water bottle looked like.

Then we stuck the water bottle in the freezer and set the timer for 30 minutes. During the last few minutes of time we filled up the kitchen sink with warm water.

 When the timer went off we observed that the water bottle had "shrunk" a bit and the balloon looked like it was being sucked in.  

My middle son explained that all the molecules were not moving around as much.  "It's like when we're cold and we want to huddle closer together to share heat!"  Not sure that's the best scientific way to look at it but if it helps him remember that cold molecules take up less space than I'm OK with that.

We then put the cold bottle directly into the warm water and watched closely.  Almost immediately we could see the bottle look like it was filling back up and the balloon puffed up a bit too.

We were kind of bummed that the balloon didn't blow up more than that and the boys asked what would happen if we used HOT water.. would the balloon get even bigger?

We decided to give it a try.  First we put our bottle back in the freezer for another 30 minutes.

We then brought a small pan of water to a boil and as soon as our timer went off we stuck the water bottle into the hot water. 

While the balloon did not blow up much more it did blow up a lot faster!

You can see how fast our balloon shot up; it was actually vibrating a bit from side to side 

We could also feel a lot of pressure pushing out against the sides of the bottle.

It was so neat to see the changes that molecules undergo in normal, hot, and cold temperatures.

Others in this series:

1. Bernoulli's Principle
2. Ecotarium Trip 

4.  Kitchen Science; Baking cupcakes

5.  Corn Maze Field Trip 

6.  Birds of Florida 

7.  Static foil drum

8.  Un-Make it Monday; Seeing Inside our DVD/VCR player

9. Wind Tunnel Experiment 

10. Biomes Marine Biology Center Field Trip  

11. Disappearing Coin Trick and the Science Behind it. 

12.  Snuff Out a Candle with Baking Soda and Vinegar

13.  Making Plastic from Milk

14.  Pencil in the Rice Friction Experiment

15 & 16.  Two Experiments using SNOW

17.  Making an Iceberg 

18.  Making an Egg Float

19.  Looking at Microscopic Organisms 

20.  Eco Plant pals

21&22.  Two Experiments with Cotton Candy

23. Springfield Science Museum Trip

24.  Teaching Children the Signs of Spring

25.  Color Changing Slime

26.  Growing Tickle Me Plants

27.  Learning About Soil Sampling

28.  Making Super Bouncy Balls 

29. Exploring the New England Shoreline

30.  Color Changing Flower Experiment 

31.  Roger Williams Zoo Trip

32.  Edible Silly Putty 

33.  Raising Tadpoles

34. More Microscope Fun

35. Making Homemade Ice Cream

36.  Observing Plants Breathe 

37.  Trip to Save the Bay Exploration Center and Aquarium

38. Making Fresh Peach Preserves 

39.  Making Solar S'mores

40.  Growing a Crystal Garden

41 & 42.  Jolly Rancher Candy Apples and Lollipops

43.  Volcanic Lemons 

44.  Oozing Pumpkins 

45.  Growing a Germ Farm

46.  Looking at the Germ Farm Under a Microscope

47 & 48.  Building Model Molecules Two Ways 

49.  Kitchen Chemistry Experiments 

50.  Fall Leaf Chromatography 

51.  Color Changing Experiments with Iodine

52.  Learning About Birds in Winter

53. Iodine and Starch Experiment
54. Flouride and Calcium Experiment
55. Botanical Gardens in Winter
56.  Making Cell Models
57. Which Has More Water; Ice or Snow?
58. Exploding Snow and Water Baggies
59.  Exploring Minerals
60. Visiting the Hartford Science Museum
61-63. 3 STEM Bridge Challenges
64. Making Models of the Earth
65. Plate Techtonics with Graham Crackers
66.  Homemade Lava Lamp
67.  Science Movies We're Watching
68. Index Card Towers
69.  Botany at the Botanical Gardens
70. Best Board Games for Science 
71. Homemade Frozen Yogurt Pops
72.  Starburst Rock Cycle 
73. & 74. Sinking a Marshmallow
75. Jumping Conversation Hearts 
76-78. Building a Paper Airplane 3 Ways 
79. Learning About Hummingbirds 
80.  Planting an Herb Garden 
81. Mushroom Spores 
82. - 84.  Penny Saturation Experiments 
85. Sink or Float?
86. Disappearing Ink 
87. Sedment Layer Jars
88. Tie Dye Science 
89-91. DNA Experiments 
92.  Homemade Butter 
93. Floating Marker Art 
94. & 95. Oil Spills & Water Filtration 
96.- 98. Making Rock Candy & Rock Candy Experiments 
99. Rocket Science 

100. Permaculture Garden Tour