Exploring the Effects of Hot and Cold Air

It's Science Week here on Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas! I am being joined by a few of my fave bloggy buddies - Megan of Coffee Cups and Crayons, Trisha of Inspiration Laboratories and Allison of Learn Play Imagine - to bring you some fun, kid friendly science explorations this week. 

Today's topic is Weather. The Lil Divas and I explored the effects of hot air and cold air with one of our favorite scientific tools - a balloon. :)  (Note: This activity should be done under adult supervision.) 

Do your kids ever wonder how hot and cold affects the air around them? This is such a quick and easy activity that will help them see how hot and cold affects the air around us.

What You Need: 

plastic bottle

bowl 

balloon

water

ice

What To Do:

1. Heat some water so that it's hot. I popped it into the microwave for approximately 2.5 minutes.

2. Fill your plastic bottle with the hot water and let sit for a minute.

3. Empty the water from your bottle.

4. Stretch the balloon over the mouth of the bottle and observe.

Our heated bottle got sucked in right before our eyes. The Lil Divas were amazed.

5. Place your hot bottle into a bowl of ice water and observe.

The air inside the bottle cooled and contracted causing outside air to be drawn in. The balloon was pulled in and inflated inside the bottle. Tip: You may need to lift/straighten the balloon to help it a bit if it's hanging off the side.

The Lil Divas thought this was pretty neat. Go ahead and give it a try.

Check out the other weather experiments being shared today:

How to Make a Cloud in a Bottle

(Coffee Cups and Crayons)

Make a Hurricane

(Inspiration Laboratories)

Observing Conduction Weather for Kids

(Learn Play Imagine)

Science Week Topics -

Monday = Weather 

Wednesday = Liquids

Friday = Flowers