If Hot Air Rises, Why is it Cold in the Mountains?

Add to list Go to activity
Activity link broken? See if it's at the internet archive
This demonstration/activity helps learners understand why higher elevations are not always warm simply because "hot air rises." Learners use a tire pump to increase the pressure and temperature inside a plastic bottle. After the bottle cools to room temperature, learners will release the valve and observe cool air escaping the bottle. Learners will discover that as the air moves to lower pressure, it cools.

Quick Guide

Preparation Time:
Under 5 minutes
Learning Time:
10 to 30 minutes
Estimated Materials Cost:
$1 - $5 per group of students
Age Range:
Ages 8 - 18
Resource Types:
Activity, Demonstration, Experiment/Lab Activity, Lesson/Lesson Plan
Language:
English

Materials List (per group of students)

  • Two liter bottle
  • Tire valve to fit in a cap of bottle (Ace Hardware)
  • Bike pump with pressure gauge
  • LCD aquarium thermometer (Petco)

Keywords

Subjects

  • Earth and Space Science
    • Earth Structure
      • Atmosphere
  • Physical Sciences
    • Heat and Thermodynamics
      • Heat and Temperature
      • Heat Transfer
      • Thermodynamics and Entropy
    • Energy
    • Motion and Forces
    • States of Matter
      • Gases
    • Structure and Properties of Matter
  • The Nature of Science
    • The Scientific Process
      • Conducting Investigations

Informal Categories

  • Nature and Environment

Audience

To use this activity, learners need to:

  • see
  • touch

Learning styles supported:

  • Involves hands-on or lab activities

Other

This resource is part of:

Access Rights:

  • Free access

By:

Rights:

  • All rights reserved, Little Shop of Physics, 2009