The Junior Camp V3 Project 2 Adventure

Objectives:

• Hypothesize and Experiment: Encourage students to form hypotheses about the behavior of air and test them through hands-on activities.
• Discover Physics in Action: Provide a tangible experience of Bernoulli’s principle, enhancing comprehension of fluid dynamics and its real-world applications.

Background Information:

• Bernoulli’s Breakthrough: In 1738, Daniel Bernoulli unveiled a fundamental truth about fluids: as their velocity increases, so does their tendency to exert less pressure. This revelation is beautifully illustrated by the simple act of inflating a bag with air.

Safety Tips:

• Breathe Easy: Remind students to never seal a bag completely around their face. Encourage deep, controlled breaths and take breaks as needed to ensure a safe and enjoyable learning experience.

Supplies Needed:

• Bernoulli Bag: A specially designed bag that will serve as our experimental tool.
• Writing Materials: For recording observations, predictions, and results.
• A Helper: A friend, parent, or teacher to assist with the experiment.

Go Further:

• From Bags to Planes: Explore how Bernoulli’s principle is crucial in model aviation, particularly in the design of airplane wings. The airfoil shape of wings creates a pressure difference that lifts the plane into the sky.

Instructions:

1. Prepare Your Bag: Securely tie one end of the bag to prevent air from escaping during the experiment.
2. Predictive Thinking: With your helper holding the tied end, stand apart with the bag extended. Predict how many breaths it will take to inflate it fully. Record your predictions.
3. Blow with Purpose: Take a deep breath, hold the bag’s opening around your mouth, and blow with controlled force. Limit yourself to five breaths to prevent overexertion.
4. Adjust Your Hypothesis: If the bag isn’t fully inflated after five breaths, close the opening and push the air towards the knot. Reassess your initial prediction and record any changes.
5. Complete Inflation: Continue blowing until the bag is fully inflated. Compare the actual number of breaths taken to your initial prediction.
6. Alternate Method: Empty the bag and flatten it. Stand 10 inches away from it, take a deep breath, and blow into it. Observe what happens and discuss why.

By transforming this lesson plan into an interactive journey through physics, students will not only learn about Bernoulli’s principle but also develop critical thinking skills that will serve them well in all areas of study.