Air takes up space — Physical education, 4–6 years
Air is invisible, but balloons, bubbles and upside-down cups help you see that it is there and takes up room.
Invisible does not mean empty
Air is a gas around us. We cannot usually see it, but it fills rooms, bags and balloons. When air is already in a place, another thing may not fit there unless the air can move out.
Why did people need to know?
Air is easy to forget because it cannot usually be seen or held. People noticed it when sails filled, bellows blew and closed containers resisted water. Understanding air helped them make tools that trap, move or use it safely.
The upside-down cup
Push a dry tissue into the bottom of a cup. Turn the cup upside down and lower it straight into a bowl of water. The tissue stays dry because the air inside the cup takes up the space. Tilt the cup: bubbles escape, water enters and the tissue gets wet.
You cannot see it, but it is there
It is reasonable to think an empty-looking cup contains nothing. We call it empty because our eyes cannot see the air, not because there is no air inside. Water enters only after the trapped air escapes as bubbles.
Where is trapped air useful?
Balloons and inflatable toys keep their shape because air is held inside them. Bicycle tyres use trapped air to make a softer, safer ride, and air mattresses use it to support a body. A straw works when air pressure helps move a drink into your mouth.
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