The Air you Breathe - Aria e Territorio

This activity’s objective are:

  • Understand the physics behind air’s behaviour as fluid;
  • Identify the major problems related to air pollution;
  • Learn the basics of air pollution indicators and to measure air quality.

This activity combines theoretical knowledge on atmosphere and air quality, basic knowledge of air as a fluid, of air pollution and air quality preservation. In combination with the theory, practical activities are in place to test the knowledge acquired and see first hand the effects of atmospheric pollution.


  • Experiment - Measuring Air Pollution

Breathing is crucial for human existence, but is the air we breathe clean? This experiment will provide students with an example of how “dirty” our air is. Students have the opportunity to choose a location where they would like to examine the air quality.

Purpose

To determine the amount of foreign air particles in a specific area.

Required Materials

  • White posterboard (paper plates could also work)
  • Scissors
  • Hole punch
  • Magnifying glass
  • String
  • Vaseline
  • Permanent marker
  • Notebook
  • Pencil

Procedure

  1. Find an area in which you can hang several cut out pieces of the poster board. You can perform this experiment in your home,yard or another area of your choice depending on where you would like to examine how clean the air is.
  2. Cut the poster board into several 3x3 inch squares.
  3. Draw a square with the marker on each cut out piece of poster board, a little smaller than the square itself.
  4. Punch a hole in the top of each piece of poster board and tie pieces of string in the holes so you can hang the cutouts in the area of your choice.
  5. Smear a thin layer of Vaseline inside the drawn square on each cut out and hang them in different places within the area you’ve decided to examine. Record the areas you’ve hung each cut out in your notebook.

  6. Wait 6-10 days to collect your squares and examine your results.

    *You may need adult supervision when working with scissors, the hole punch, as well as assistance with hanging the squares in high places so the squares are not disturbed during your experiment.

    *You may need adult supervision when working with scissors, the hole punch, as well as assistance with hanging the squares in high places so the squares are not disturbed during your experiment.

At the end of your experiment, you should find some particles stuck to the square cut outs.

  • Did you find your squares to collect a lot of particles or very little?
  • Does the amount of particles found on each individual squares differ from one another? What does this mean and what would cause it?
  • How would your results change if you chose a different location to test your experiment?
  • Could the wind have an effect on your squares?
  • What would happen if you tested your experiment in an area with high levels of air pollution, such as a large industrial city?
  • Would there be more or less particles stuck to your squares?
  • What are some possible effects from breathing in highly polluted air?
  • Are there any preventative measures we can take to help clean the air?

Conclusion

Breathing clean air is very important for our lungs and our overall health. The Vaseline that had been used on the square cut outs was designed to collect air particles. You may have noticed that air pollutant particles can be big or small, and colored or colorless. The air particles that you observed are made up of dust, soot, smoke, and other chemicals that can be inhaled can block the movement of oxygen into the lungs. Higher particle concentrations are caused from areas with large populations with increased manufacturing and automobile emissions.

  • ACTIVITY - Introduction to air quality

A quick and easily differentiated workshop that explores what air pollution is, where it comes from and what can be done about it.

Link

https://schools.leicester.gov.uk/services/environment-health-and-well-being/air-quality-education/air-quality-education-resources/

Topics covered

Air Quality, Pollution, Environment Conservation

Relevance

This activity introduces air physics and quality, and atmospheric pollution to students in a comprehensible way, starting from how air behaves, how it can be polluted by human activity and how do we measure air quality in a location and see first-eyes what people breathe in a certain area.