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Continue with Microsoft TeamsRead The Experiment
How Much Air?
How much air is in a single breath you take? Try this experiment to find out.
What You Need
What You Do
What You Need
- Sink or large bowl
- 2-L plastic pop bottle with cap
- Water
- Measuring cup
- Bendable straw
- Partner
What You Do
- Completely fill the pop bottle with water and screw on the cap. Then fill the sink or bowl with water until it is about half full.
- Turn the bottle upside down and hold it in the water so the cap is underwater. Remove the cap while it is underwater. Make sure no air gets inside the bottle.
- Have your partner hold the bottle for you. Place one end of the straw in the opening of the bottle. Take a deep breath and blow into the other end of the straw. The air you blow out will go into the bottle.
- While your partner holds the top of the bottle underwater, screw the cap back on.
- Lift the bottle out of the water. Turn it upright and remove the cap. Fill the measuring cup with water. (Do not use the water from the bottle.) Record how much water is in the measuring cup.
- Slowly pour water from the measuring cup into the bottle until it is full. Look at the markings on the measuring cup. Check how much water it took to fill the bottle.
- Repeat the experiment, letting your partner blow air into the bottle this time.
Now Show What You Know!
Complete some questions about the reading selection by clicking “Begin Questions” below.
