How to Do Weight of Air Science in Class

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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.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

A balloon
A ruler
A string

Step1

Click on this picture to see the experiment in action. Poke a very small hole in a balloon and cover the hole with tape. Then blow up a balloon (the bigger the better!).

Step2

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.

Step3

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.

Step4

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.

Step5

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.