Chapter Graphic : Balancing Balloons
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  Level: Year 4
Approach: One to one
Focus: Understanding that air has mass, takes up space, and is more dense when compressed.
92k
Resources: Video showiong steps of the experiment.
Download the videoclip 1.4MB (requires QuickTime plug-in)

Questions / instructions:
This activity starts with a video. The video shows an experiment with balloons placed on a balance.
Show video clip 1, 2 uninflated balloons on balance.

 
 
% responses
y4
1. What happened when the balloons were put on the balance?
a
 
stay balanced
91
2. Why did that happen?
a
 
both weigh the same
64
3. If one of the balloons on the balance is blown up and the other one isn't, what do you think will happen?
a
 
blown up one will tip scale down
59
 
they will still balance
4
 
blown up one will rise
32
4. Why do you say that?
a
 
not marked
a
Show video clip 2, one balloon inflated one not.
a
5. What happened when the balloon that was blown up was put on one end of the balance?
a
 
blown up one tips scale down
98
6. Why did the balance go down on one side
a
 
compressed air is denser than less compressed air
1
 
air has weight
46
7. What does this experiment tell us about air?
a
 
under greater pressure, air is condensed (more weight in same volume)
2
 
air has weight / takes up space
57
Commentary:
The proper explanation for the key feature of this task was beyond the knowledge of almost all of the year 4 students. However, many students made good predictions and gave partial explanations.
 
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