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 science projects for kids of all ages. This is a wonderful introduction to be able to understand how airplanes fly.

Learning About Air Science Experiments - So many fun, unique, and meaningful science projects to help kids understand air is real, express energy, exert pressure, and how airplanes fly.

Air Pressure Science Project

Kids are going to be so impressed when learning about air with these amazing Air Pressure Science Project.

Show kid 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 Expresses Energy

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

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 Science 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

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!

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:

100 Amazing Food science experiments for kids – arranged by type of science
Colorful Capillary action science experiment (also known as walking water)
Amaze kids with these 12 Hands on Science experiments with batteries
24 Epic Solar system science projects to try this week
Fun Water balloon science experiment that explores density
50 Fun Preschool science experiments the whole family will want to try
Simple Galaxy science project
Easy and Fun Dancing Raisins Experiment
Learn about weather as you find how to make a weather vane
Eye opening Eye science experiments
Easy-to- make Air pressure science project
Amazing POP rocks science experiment is one of our all-time favorite science experiments we like to do during the summer are
Stunning Chromatography Flowers are so pretty you’ll forget it was as science project!
How to Make a Lava Lamp – super easy and SO cool!
30 Simple machines science projects kids will want to try
Easy, fascinating, and colorful project answering Why do Leaves Change Color Experiment

Free Printable Animal Classifications for Kids Cootie Catchers
19 Edible science experiments – which delicious project will you try first?
HUGE Free Solar System Unit (coloring pages, hands on science projects, worksheets, and more!)
Pipe Cleaner Constellation Activity (As seen on Good Housekeeping!)
Teach kids about conductivity with this fun squishy circuits projects
Amazing, Heat Sensitive, Color Changing Slime
Life Cycles for Kids (from penguin to sunflower and spider to turkey we have LOTS of life cycles to explore and learn about)
EASY, Colorful Oil and Water Science Experiment
Kids will be amazed as you change colors of white flowers with this Dying Flowers Science Experiment
This super cool Lego Zipline is fun and simple to make
Human Body Project
Check out this super cool look INSIDE a Volcano Project
Exploding Watermelon – science experiment that explores potential and kinetic energy with a big WOW moment!
Memorable Life Size Skeletal system science project – includes free printable template
Find LOTS more Easy Science Experiments for kids of all ages!