Dressing for Altitude: Why Do We Really Need Pressure Suits?

Dressing for Altitude: Why Do We Really Need Pressure Suits?

Dressing for Altitude: Do You Really Need Pressure Suits? is a set of activities that tie temperature, pressure, and density to human survival at high altitudes. Four lessons, each made of several activities, can be taught alone or as a unit, since temp., pressure, and density are interrelated. Lessons and activities are broken down as follows: Lesson One: (Pressure and Human Survival) contains four activities incl. building a pressure suit for marshmallow Peeps and observing how gases act in a vacuum. Lesson Two: (Pressure) contains three activities that further examine gases in a vacuum or under pressure. Lesson Three: (Temperature) contains four activities that focus on the effect pressure or lack of pressure affects temp. Activities include boiling water without heat, igniting an object with increased air pressure, and collapsing a soda can by changing pressure through temp. Lesson Four: (Density) contains two activities that examine density in solids and in a gas as students observe floating and sinking bowling balls, and a decrease in air pressure in a candle and jar experiment.

Dressing for Altitude: Why Do We Really Need Pressure Suits?

Grade Level: 5-12 (Can be shown to K-4 as demonstration)

Time Required: Four lessons, each made up of several activities. Each activity takes 45-60 minutes to complete. Can be completed in entirety or each activity stands alone. Lesson One (pressure and human survival): Four activities Lesson Two (pressure): Three activities Lesson Three (temperature): Four activities Lesson Four (density): Two activities

National Science Standards Addressed:

Science K-4 (as demo)

•    Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry
•    Understandings about scientific inquiry
•    Properties of objects and materials
•    Light, heat, electricity, and magnetism

Science 5-8:

•    Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry
•    Understanding about scientific inquiry
•    Properties and changes of properties in matter
•    Motions and forces
•    Transfer of energy
•    Structure of the Earth system
•    Structure and function in living systems
•    Abilities of technological design
•    Understandings about science and technology
•    Science and technology in society
•    Science as a human endeavor

Science 9-12:

•    Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry
•    Understanding about scientific inquiry
•    Structure and properties of matter
•    Motions and forces
•    Natural and human-induced hazards
•    Science and technology in local, national, and global challenges
•    Science as a human endeavor
•    Conservation of energy and increase in disorder

Topic: Temperature, Pressure, Density, and Human Survival at High Altitudes

Design Packet for Why Do We Really Need Pressure Suits? (Middle / High School)

Design Packet for Why Do We Really Need Pressure Suits? (Elementary)

This activity is part of the Museum in a Box Lessons