Air Pressure Experiments incluing Egg in a Bottle

Help your kids learn about and understand air pressure by helping them understand that air is real, expresses energy, and exerts pressure with these fun, hands on air pressure experiments for kids of all ages from preschool, pre-k, kindergaten, first grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, and 4th graders. This lesson includes fun air pressure for kids explanations including egg in a bottle project, air pressure experiments with water, or try air pressure straw experiment. Plus we’ve included the classic air pressure can crusher in this introduction to be able to understand how airplanes fly.

Air Pressure Experiments

Kids are going to be so impressed when learning about air with these amazing Air Pressure Science Project. From blowing up a balloon with hot water to a egg in a bottle experiment and more – we have so many fun ways to learn about air pressure for kids These air pressure science experiments are perfect for preschoolers, kindergartners, grade 1, grade 2, grade 3, and grade 4 students.

Air pressure experiments with water

In this water bottle experiment air pressure you will be able to show kids that air is real. Show them an empty soda bottle and ask them what is inside – chances are they will say nothing. Now put a balloon over the top.

Set 2 liter bottle in boiling water and watch the balloon inflate. (as air is heated the molecules spread out)

If it were empty how could it inflate? Air is real – we just can’t see it!

Air pressure can crusher

You will need an empty soda can which you put just a little water in. Now heat it on the stove until hot. Meanwhile get ready a large bowl of ice water.

Now using tongs quickly put the hot can in the very cold water. It should collapse.

As the water was brought to a boil, the can quickly filled with steam which pushed out all the air. When the steam is cooled off by the cold water, it condenses into a few drops of water, leaving a vacuum in its place. The air crushes the can as it tries to get inside.

Think of examples of air pressure in nature: wind, tornado, or even when your ears pop when the plane goes up.

air pressure and straws science experiment

Air pressure straw experiment

Pick two children to compete in this science project. They should both have a glass containing a beverage. Put a straw in each glass, but one of the straws should have holes in them. Have the children compete to see who can drink the liquid the quickest.

The child trying to drink out of the straw with holes in it will be unsuccessful. Give them a new straw to drink and then explain about air pressure and straws.

When you sip on a straw, you lower the air pressure inside the straw. As a result, the outside air pressure, which is greater, pushes down on the surface of the liquid, forcing it to move up the straw. When some of you sipped on the straw with the holes, however, the air pressure was pulled directly inside via the holes. The pressure did not exert itself on the water, so the water did not rise up your straw.

Egg in a bottle

For this egg in a bottle experiment explain that just like water contracts when frozen or expands when heated, air does as well. Demonstrate this by giving everyone a bottle with an opening that is too small for the hard boiled egg to fit through.

Have an adult light a fire on a rolled up piece of paper and quickly drop it in the bottle. When the flame has gone out quickly set the egg on top of the bottle – watch as the egg is sucked into the bottle.

When the fire goes out it cools off and shrinks, or contracts. As it contracts, it leaves a partial vacuum inside. The outside air that was pushed out earlier then pushes the egg into the bottle as it tries to get back inside.

egg in a bottle in reverse science project for kids

Egg in a Bottle Science Experiment

Now reverse the experiment. Place the bottle in a bowl of very hot water. The air expands and needs somewhere to go so it will push the egg out to have more room.

Here you can see our Egg in a Bottle Science Experiment in reverse!

Plus don’t miss these book to help explain air pressure to kids.

Science for Kids

Looking for lots more fun, science experiments for kids? You’ve GOT to try some of these outrageously fun science experiments for kids! We have so many fun, creative and easy science experiments for elementary age children:

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Find LOTS more Easy Science Experiments for kids of all ages!