How to Do Weight of Air Science in Class

The following is a cute experiment to prove to the kids that air has weight. It's impossible to weigh air on a scale, so this is a great way to demonstrate the weight of air to small children.

Things You'll Need

• A balloon
• A ruler
• A string

Instructions

1. 

   Poke a very small hole in a balloon and cover the hole with tape. Then blow up a balloon (the bigger the better!).

2. Attach the balloon to one end of a ruler and a little clay or crayon (anything with a little weight) to the other end of the ruler.

3. Loop some string around the middle of the ruler so that it balances each end leaving the ruler horizontal. Make sure the kids know what will happen if one side gets lighter.

4. Ask the children if they still think that air has no weight. If air, indeed, has no weight, then removing the air from the balloon will not effect the balance of the ruler.

5. 

   Remove the tape from the balloon and watch as the air escapes from the balloon how the ruler tips due to the loss of weight.

Resources

• Rock and Roll Kindergarten