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Activity: Invisible Air Pollution

Posted Fri, 03/27/2009 - 11:07am
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O24u Facilitators' Guide Activity -Module 2: Health Effects of Air Pollution

Activity Time: 
30 – 45 minutes
Required Materials: 
  • Clean, dry, wide mouth glass jar (such as a mayonnaise jar)
  • Heavy aluminum foil
  • Two or three ice cubes
  • Ruler
  • Scissors
  • Stop watch or watch with a second hand
  • Matches (for adult use only)
Learning Objective: 
  • Recognize that invisible air pollutants are involved in creating smog
  • Understand that not all air pollution is visible
  • Appreciate that human activities can cause air pollution
Procedure: 
  1. Explain that the class will perform an experiment in which they will create artificial “smog” in a jar. Make sure that students understand that the jar is only a model, and models by nature are limited. For example, the purpose of this model is to illustrate the appearance and behavior of smog, not the composition or effects. It is important to understand that smog is not just a “smoky fog,” but a specific phenomenon.
  2. Select students to perform the experiment. Have them cut a strip of paper about 6 inches by 2 inches.
  3. Fold the strip in half and twist it into a rope.
  4. Have them make a snug lid for the jar out of a piece of aluminum foil.
  5. Shape a small depression in the foil lid to keep the ice cubes from sliding off.
  6. Carefully remove the foil and set it aside.
  7. Have the students put some water in the jar and swish it around to wet all the inside of the jar.
  8. Pour out the extra water.
  9. Have them light the paper “rope” with a match and drop it and the match into the damp jar. Put the foil lid back on the jar and seal it tightly.
  10. Put ice cubes on the lid to make it cold. (The ice cubes will make the water vapor in the jar condense.)

You must do this step very quickly, perhaps with some assistance.

Discussion: 

Ask students to describe what they see in the jar.

  • How is this like real smog?
  • What conditions in the jar produced “smog”?
    (Answer: moisture plus soot particles from the burning matches plus carbon dioxide and other solvent vapors.)
  • Ask the students if they have ever seen smog (not fog).
  • Have they ever breathed air outside that smelled funny?
Groups: