Gases Lighter and Heavier than Air

Carbon dioxide is a very important gas; it is present in the air, used in cooking, and supports plant and animal life. Scholars investigate the properties of carbon dioxide with three different activities. They experience a color change,...

Scholars participate in two design challenges concerning flight in the second instructional activity of the series. They design balloon crafts that have neutral buoyancy and forward motion.

In one of the more memorable Spangler episodes, Spangler has a large terrarium filled with sulfur-hexafluoride gas, which is six times heavier than the air we breathe! It has some amazing properties, one of which it doesn't allow...

It is more than just blowing hot air. Pupils first build a hot air balloon out of tissue paper by cutting enough panels of tissue paper to form a balloon shape and glue the panels together. Using a hot air gun, individuals then inflate...

Students conduct an experiment to discover what happens to air when it is heated or cooled, discover that wind moves from a high-pressure area (an area of sinking air) to a low pressure area (an area of rising air).

Students experiment with objects of different densities. In this density instructional activity, students examine same-sized objects with different weights, then look at a teacher explanation of density. Students make wave bottles and...

Teachers, to demonstrate to the elementary student that some gases are heavier than others, this experiment uses Winnie the Pooh and balloons to do just that.

Students explore the different types of balloons.  In this materials lesson students can complete several experiments including building their own hot air balloons, making balloon animals and experimenting with static...

Students study how hot air balloons were created and the different types there are.  In this density and lift lesson students build their own hot air balloon.

Students observe teacher demonstrations that illustrate density. In this density lesson, the teacher demonstrates how air bubbles in a carbonated drink can cause a raisin to float and how an egg sinks in fresh water, but floats in salt...