Air—Is It Really There?

This online resource helps develop an understanding of the properties of gases.

The resource details some simple experiments to help students develop an understanding of the properties of the mixture of gases they are most familiar with: the air around us.

By watching and performing these several simple experiments, students gain an understanding of the following properties of air: it has mass, it takes up space, it can move, it exerts pressure, it can do work.

It includes a video, practical activity outlines (with materials and instructions), and assessment ideas.

STEM Connection

Engineers must understand the physical properties of air so they can determine the best way to remove pollutants from contaminated air. They study how quickly air moves and how much pressure it exerts. This knowledge helps them design filtration systems that efficiently move air through a system, while at the same time ensuring that pollutants are removed before the air is released into the atmosphere.

Australian Curriculum v9 Codes: AC9S5U04 (Year 5)