AIR

PRESSURE
Activity Egg
in
the
Materials
Bottle

Milk or juice bottle with mouth about 3.5 to

4.0 cm wide, a medium sized boiled egg,
strips of paper, matchsticks.
Procedures

1. Get a clean, dry bottle and a boiled egg.

2. Light strips of paper and immediately drop

them into the bottle. Let the paper burn
inside for 5 seconds (count up to five) and
put the egg into the bottle while giving it a
gentle push. Observe what happens to the
egg.
Why does the egg slide into the
bottle, even though no one is
pushing it?
is the amount of force or pressure
exerted by the atmosphere on the
objects located within it
 Air pressure is related
to altitude and density.

Altitude, or elevation, is the distance above

sea level. Air pressure decreases as altitude
increases. Just as air pressure decreases with
altitude, so does the density of air.
 Example

Ear Popping
Tire Popping
Astronauts
Divers
 Barometer

is the instrument
used to measure
air pressure
 Did you know???

Air pressure is an important factor affecting

weather. When the weatherperson on TV
says that theres a high-pressure system
moving in, it usually means nice weather.
Low-pressure systems generally bring
clouds and precipitation. Thats because the
warm air in a low-pressure system
sometimes carries water vapor inside it.
And when that warm, humid air rises, it can
form rain clouds! Changes in air pressure
help weather forecasters predict how the
weather will change.
 Think About It!

Why Does the Atmosphere

Exert Pressure?
What causes the air to blow from place to place?

Atmospheric pressure isnt the same everywhere

on Earth. Wind is the horizontal movement of air in
response to differences in pressure. Winds are the
means by which the atmosphere attempts to balance
the uneven distribution of pressure over Earths
surface.
 Activity

A. Use the diagram to answer the questions.

1. Where is the atmospheric pressure lowest?
2. Where is the atmospheric pressure highest?
3. Is Valley View above or below sea level?

B. Identify the instrument shown in the diagram, then answer the

questions.
Instrument: __________
1. What do the shaded arrows in the diagram represent?
2. What is the standard air pressure in millimeters of mercury?
3. What happens to the liquid in the tube if air pressure increases?
4. What happens to the liquid in the tube if air pressure decreases?
5. How does the barometer shown differ from an aneroid barometer?
 Evaluation
Air Pressure in the Troposphere
Altitude (m above sea level) Average atmospheric
pressure (millibars)
0 (sea level) 1013.2
500 954.6
1,000 898.8
1,500 845.6
2,000 795.0
2,500 746.9
3,000 701.2
3,500 657.8
4,000 616.6
4,500 577.5
5,000 540.5
5,500 505.4
6,000 472.2
6,500 440.8
7,000 411.0
7,500 383.0
8,000 356.5
8,500 331.5
9,000 308.0
9,500 285.8
10,000 265.0

Questions:
1. Describe the relationship between altitude and atmospheric pressure shown in the table.
2. Estimate the average atmospheric pressure in a hole 500meters below sea level.
3. If you were flying in a plane, at an altitude of 1,500 meters, what would the atmospheric
pressure outside the plane be? When you fly that high, why might your ears pop?
Assignment
1. Follow the steps provided in the
worksheet in making your own barometer.
2. Take the barometer outside to start your
observations. You'll be tracking changes in
the position of the straw, which will be
affected by changes to the balloon wrap:
High pressure will make the balloon wrap
cave in, making the straw rise. Low pressure
will make the balloon wrap puff up, so the
straw will fall.
3. Check the location of the straw three
times a day in the morning, at lunch, and
at the end of the day. Using a pencil, mark
the location of the straw using the pressure
scale.
4. At the end of each day, determine if the
average pressure reading for the day was
falling, steady, or rising.
5. Record the results on the data sheet
provided.