Examining the Movement of Gases

Name__________________

Friday, November 5, 2010

Due:  Monday, November 15, 2010

Today we are going to examine if temperature affects how gases move.

Materials:

                        Matches                                   

1 plastic cup 125 mL cup filled with ice

                        Candle                                                Flashlight

black construction paper

2 convection tubes connected by a short piece of clear plastic tubing.

                        What material can we add to the list to allow us to see air?

 ________________________

Procedure: 

1. Arrange the candle and the cup of ice so that each will sit under one of the convection tubes.
2. Light the candle and carefully place one of the convection tubes over the candle and the other over the ice. 
3. Light the material you are using to make air visible and place near the top opening of the ice convection tube.
4. To help you see what is happening shine a flashlight at the convection tubes and place a piece of black paper behind them.  Turn off the classroom lights.
5. In the data area below draw what you observe happening in the box labeled “Air visibility tool at top of ice convection tube”
6. Move your air visibility material to the top of the convection tube with the candle inside,
7.   In the data area below draw what you observe happening in the box labeled “Air visibility tool at top of candle convection tube”

Data:

Analysis:

1. Describe how the air moves?  With class discussion, explain why the air move this way?

2. On a warm summer day at the beach, what direction will the air move – toward the shore or toward the ocean?

3. On a summer’s night at the beach, what direction will the air move  toward the shore or toward the ocean? 

4. Uncle Al is confused again.  He really knows that there is air around him, but he knows you can’t see air and so it really isn’t anything important.  He doesn’t understand how air can cause winds and storms as it doesn’t really exist.