Summary
Phil shows that air takes up space and pushes on everything around it, using air pressure to crush cans and lift heavy weights. A surprising look at an invisible force we feel every day. ~22 min, free on the official Science Max YouTube channel.
Viewer safety
All ages
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Teaching resources
Discussion questions
Discussion
Air is invisible, but Phil proves it is powerful enough to crush a can.
- How do we know that air is really there?
- What does air pressure push against?
- Why did the can get crushed in the episode?
- Where else do we use the push of air?
Quick work-a-long
Vocabulary: air, pressure, push, vacuum, force.
Try it: Push an upside-down cup straight down into a tub of water and watch the air keep the inside dry. Explain what the trapped air is doing.