Contributed by Bonnie Fulgham

Suggested Grades

1-3

Objective

This demonstration, will show students that air takes space.

Materials

• glass jar
• Styrofoam packing peanut
• clear basin of water (glass bowl or aquarium)

Method

• Float the packing peanut on the surface of the water.
• Ask students what will happen if you place the jar upside down over the peanut in the water.
• Place the jar over the peanut and push straight down into the water. The peanut will be pushed to the bottom of the water.
• You can combine this with putting paper toweling in the bottom of the jar as both with show the same thing.
• The air in the jar kept water from entering the jar (toweling stayed dry) and pushed the peanut before it to the bottom of the basin.