Under Pressure
Recommended for grades K–5.
Introduction
Do you ever wonder why you can only blow so much air into a balloon before it bursts? Or why a volcano erupts and shoots gases, dust, and molten rock high up into the air? This activity will allow you to explore reactions similar to these in the safety of your own classroom! Be sure to wear your safety goggles whenever you work with chemical reactions — this activity is a BLAST!
Objectives
In this activity, you will
- Record what happens to the air pressure when you combine vinegar and baking soda in a plastic water bottle.
- Find out what happens when you mix different amounts of vinegar and baking soda together.
Sensors and Equipment
This experiment requires each of the following Vernier sensors and equipment (unless otherwise noted):
Additional Requirements
You may also need an interface and software for data collection. What do I need for data collection?
Download Experiment Preview
The student-version preview includes:
- Step-by-step instructions for computer-based data collection
- List of materials and equipment
Note: The experiment preview of the computer edition does not include essential teacher information, safety tips, or sample data. Instructions for Logger Pro and other software (such as LabQuest App or TI handheld software, where available) are on the CD that accompanies the book. We strongly recommend that you purchase the book before performing experiments.
Standards Correlations
See all standards correlations for Elementary Science with Vernier »
Included in the Lab Book
Vernier lab books include a CD with word-processing files of the student instructions, essential teacher information, suggested answers, sample data and graphs, and more.