Bernoulli's Principle Investigation #3
What happens to the ping-pong balls?� Why?
Lesson Goal
Students understanding of Bernoulli?s Principle will be reinforced.�
Key Science Topics
Flowing air
Bernoulli"s Principle    The pressure created by flowing air is less than the pressure of stationary air.
Pressure       Movement of air occurs from an area of greater pressure to an area of  lesser pressure
Grade Level3 - 8
Objective
�Each student will investigate Bernoulli?s Principle to discover/understand how flowing air causes suspended ping-pong balls to move.
Materials
2 Ping-Pong balls
Scissors
2 Lengths of fishing line (24?)
Masking tape
Stand
Procedure
Tape two equal length pieces of fishing line to two ping-pong balls.
Hang the two ping-pong balls about 5 cm apart from a horizontal support.
of the ping-pong balls.
Blow air between the ping-pong balls in a quick blast.
Springboards for Discussion
What happens  when air is blown straight at one of the ping-pong balls?
What do you think will happen when a blast of air is blown between the two ping-pong balls?
What did happen?
What did blowing a blast of air create?
What is different about the air between the two ping-pong balls as compared to  the surrounding air?
Connecting to the Standards (National Science Education Standards ?NRC 1996)
Standard A
Teachers of science plan an inquiry-based science program for their students.
Standard B
Teachers of science guide and facilitate learning.
Mississippi Science Framework
Grade 3 Competency: Examine changes in matter.
Grade 4 Competency: Investigate changes in the states of matter.
Grade 5 Competency: Identify properties and changes in matter.
Grade 6 Competency: Investigate structure, properties, and changes in matter.
Grade 7 Competency: Investigate physical properties of matter.
Grade 8 Competency: Analyze the properties of matter.
Explanation
When blowing air straight at one of the ping-pong balls, the ping-pong ball moves away from the source of the blowing air. This is because when the air molecules bang directly against the surface of the ping-pong ball, the kinetic energy is transferred to the ping-pong ball and it moves away. When blowing in-between the two ping-pong balls, the air molecules are moved away creating a low-pressure area. The stationary air surrounding the two ping-pong balls on the outside exerts a higher pressure and pushes the two ping-pong balls together.
Making Connections Across the Curriculum
Language Arts
The students will answer investigation questions and write a few summarizing sentences in their journals explaining how Bernoulli's Principle worked in this investigation.
After discussing high and low air pressure and reading the book Magic School Bus Kicks Up a Storm: A Book About Weather, the students will write a short journal article pretending that they are in a hurricane or tornado.� The students will describe their feelings and what they did while they were in the storm as well as explaining how different pressures caused the storm.� They can also paint or draw a picture to go along with their story.
Social studies
The students will watch weather reports and observe high and low pressure systems that affect our weather.� Students will plot high and low pressure systems on a map of the U.S. and identify the states where the pressure systems are located.�
After discussing air currents and how they affect weather, the students will discuss storms and natural disasters that changed history (famous hurricanes, tornadoes, etc.)
The students will research one famous natural disaster and the class will write articles including related science concepts and create a newspaper about storms that made history.
Drama
The students will take on the roles of the ping-pong balls and the air. Allow them to demonstrate what happened during the investigation.
Health
Discuss safety during storms and what to do in case of a tornado or hurricane.� The teacher will run the class through drills and techniques to keep a person and house safe in a storm. The students will work in groups to write and explanation of how the different pressures affect the safety of people and property during a tornado or hurricane.
Children?s Literature
1. The Berenstain Bears Science Fair, by Stan & Jan Berenstain, Random House, N. Y. 1977. ISBN#: 0-3948-3294-9
2. Magic School Bus Kicks Up a Storm: A Book About Weather by Nancy White, Scholastic Inc., 2000. ISBN#� 0439102758.� Mrs. Fizzle is at it again when she takes her class into a storm.� It discusses the properties of high and low air pressure and how it affects the weather.
3.  Air by Andy Charman, ISBN 0811455092.� Intermediate level. Includes how the body uses air, plants and air, air pressure, air currents, etc. (Boyd)
Mathematics
1.The students will measure the string in centimeters.� Then the students will determine radius, diameter, and circumference of the ping-pong ball and other balls of different weight and size. The students will repeat the investigation using these balls to see if the principles holds true. The students will write summaries in their journals and back up their responses with data from their investigations.
2. The students will measure the space between the ping-pong balls in centimeters. The students will estimate how far the ping-pong balls can be separated and still connect when air is blown between them.� Investigate to see whose estimate was most accurate.�
Physical Education
1. Students will learn how to play the game of ping-pong. Afterwards, the students will discuss how air pressure affected the movements of the balls during the game.
Art
1. The students will draw what they predict will happen during the investigation on a half sheet of paper and write why they made this prediction at the bottom. After the investigation they will draw what actually happened on the other half of the paper and write an explanation at the bottom of the page.
Technology
1. http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/edu/soar2d.htm� (Wendy, Judy, Dori)
2.http://kids.earth.nasa.gov/archive/air_pressure/index.html
3. http://home.earthlink.net/~mmc1919/venturi.html
4. http://theory.uwinnipeg.ca/mod_tech/node68.html
Suggested Assessment Strategies
The teacher will:
1.Move around the room asking questions to check for understanding.� Note which students have mastered the concept and allow those students to assist other students that are having difficulty.
2. Check the answers to the investigation questions and the written explanations in student journals for comprehension. Clarify misconceptions and/or re-teach concepts not mastered. Give credit for drawings and post in classroom.
3. Read the related children?s literature selection to the class, have students read aloud to the class or have students read independently and check for understanding by asking questions throughout and/or at the conclusion of the story.
4.Check each of the social studies maps for accuracy and the articles for accurate reporting of historical storms before publishing them in the class newspaper
5.Assess for accuracy, understanding and participation in drama, health, and P.E. activities.
6.In the math activities, check for accuracy of measurement and understanding of mathematical concepts related to radius, diameter and circumference as well as understanding of the science concepts.
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