1. Investigation 2 The Air Around Us

2. Part 1 “The Air Around Us”
Where Does Weather Happen?
The atmosphere
Air plays a very important role in the weather. In the next few days we are going to look more closely at air to learn some of its properties

3. Properties of Air Can Air be Compressed?
Answer = Yes, air can be forced into a smaller volume. Example compressor!
Can air create pressure?
Yes, pressure is the force pushing back on you. When air is compressed it creates pressure,

4. Molecular Model Everything is made of atoms and molecules
Molecules in gases are free to move around
There is a lot of space between the molecules in gas
When a gas is compressed into a smaller space the number of molecule does not change
Molecules compressed create pressure which is a force pushing in all directions

5. Does air have mass? Molecules and atoms makes up everything
Everything is made up of matter
The amount of matter in an object is its = Mass
Mass is measured in grams
Weight = is the pull or force between Earth and the matter in an object
Weight can vary from place to place on Earth but mass can not

6. Atmosphere
Earth is surrounded by a layer of air. The layer of air is called Earth’s atmosphere. The atmosphere lies between Earth’s surface (solid and liquid) and the vastness of space. We terrestrial animals lives most of our lives at the bottom of the atmosphere, surrounded by the invisible mixture of gases called air.

7. Layers of the atmosphere
Troposphere- the lowest layer, weather happens here, most of the Earth’s air is here
Stratosphere - ozone layer is found here
Mesosphere - layer where meteors burn up creating shooting stars
Thermosphere - Scientists do not know much about this layer
Exosphere - the last layer between Earth and space

8. What is the most abundant gasses in the atmosphere?
1. Nitrogen about 78%
2. Oxygen about 21%
3. Argon .9%
Some gases are variable gases meaning they change from place to place, or even day to day. Like?
Answer = carbon dioxide, methane and water vapor

9. Syringes Lab Tuesday! We can use it to investigate air
You can work alone or with a partner
Do not use the toy to annoy anyone
What happens to the air in the syringe when you push and pull on the plunger?
What can air do?
Pass out the syringes and the flex tubing

10. Air Investigation Worksheet
Students create three question and make three observations on part 1 of the Air Investigation Sheet(20 minutes)
What have you found?
When you clamp the tube closed and push the plunger down, what happens to the air?
Is there more air, less air or the same amount of air in the syringe when the air is pushed into a smaller space?
What happened after you let go of the plunger when you pushed it down?
What do you think happens to the air when it is pushed into a smaller space?
What happens to push the plunger back out when you release pressure on the plunger?

11. Air Lab Summary
Take out your worksheet and read some of the questions you have
Does air have weight or mass?
Where does air pressure come from?
How does air push the syringe plunger out?
Why is air pressure so Strong?

12. Does air have mass? (Lab Wednesday)
Can you think of an experiment to find out if air has mass? (Take 5 minutes)
Here are the supplies for today’s lab;
2 Round balloons 4 paper clips
2 Plastic bags tape
4 Clear straws
string

13. The Experiment
You must first create a plan before you are allowed to start (20 minutes)
You are allowed to modifications if the plan does not work
Share your results and conclusions
Read “What’s in the Air?”
H.W. Air investigation part 2

14. Part 2 Earth’s Atmosphere
Q. Where is the atmosphere?
Surrounding the Earth
Can you see the atmosphere in the image of Earth taken from space? No
Can you see the atmosphere in the image taken from the shuttle?
Yes, the white and orange layer
What structures can you see in the atmosphere?
Black shapes, clouds
Why can’t you see the atmosphere in the picture taken from space?
A. It is so thin that it is not visible from far away

15. Troposphere
The layer of the atmosphere that extends from