Matter - Is Air Matter? (Rob Vondrak, Chelsey Traylor)

Author

Chelsey Traylor, Rob Vondrak

Principle(s) Illustrated

1. All matter has mass and takes up space (or has volume).

2. Two things cannot occupy the same space at the same time.

3. Using evidence to support your findings

Standards

• Crosscutting Concepts: Energy and Matter

• PS1.A: Structure and Properties of Matter

• Mass is the amount of matter in an object.

• Volume is the amount of space an object takes up.

• All objects are considered to be matter.

Questioning Script

Prior knowledge & experience:

Students know that matter has mass and takes up space.

Root question:

Will a balloon filled with air weigh more or less than an empty balloon?

Is air matter? Students will predict what happens to the paper towel inverted in a cup without a hole. Why does the paper towel remain dry? How does the air act as a barrier between the water and paper towel? Why does the air get "trapped" inside the cup? Students will predict what happens to the paper towel when it is inverted in a cup with a hole. What is being released from the hole? Why is air leaving the cup? Why does the paper towel end up wet?

Target response:

An inflated balloon will weigh more because if has the added mass of the air inside of it.

Air is matter because it takes up space in the cup and has a mass. The air is blocking the water from entering the cup which keeps the paper towel dry. Two objects cannot occupy the same space at the same time. The cup with the hole allows the air to stay inside of the cup acting as a barrier between the paper towel and water. The cup with the hole allows water to escape. The air is released as bubbles from the hole. The water pushes the air through the hole. The water is occupying the space in the inverted cup making the paper towel become wet.

Common Misconceptions:

Some common misconceptions are since we cannot see or touch all matter like atoms, molecules, and air then they cannot be matter. Gases like air are not matter because it doesn't have a mass and is not visible. When you put air into a balloon it weighs less because it will float.

Photographs and Movies

Applications to everyday life

Diving bells

Space cargo weight

References

Reference 1: Wonders of Our World - Tissue in a Cup

Reference 2: Simple Science Demonstrations