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Home » Key Stage 2 Science » 6 Easy Air Pressure Experiments for Kids

6 Easy Air Pressure Experiments for Kids

Modified: Jan 31, 2025 · Published: May 26, 2014 by Emma Vanstone · This post may contain affiliate links · 2 Comments

These air pressure experiments are great fun and fantastic demonstrations of a fascinating force.

What is air pressure?

Air pressure is the weight of the atmosphere pressing down on Earth. We measure air pressure using a barometer. Have you ever climbed a mountain or visited an area at a high altitude and found you get out of breath more easily? This is because air pressure decreases at higher altitudes. Have you been on a plane and felt discomfort in your ears? This is due to changes in air pressure. Changes in air pressure allow for lots of cool science experiments. Here are some of our favourite air pressure experiments.

Air Pressure Experiments

Make a Drinks Dispenser

This easy drinks dispenser is a brilliant science project and useful too! Party guests will wonder how this fun science trick works!

drinks dispenser made from a plastic bottle, straw and plasticine for an air pressure demonstration
Homemade Drinks Dispenser

Make a Bottle Rocket

My favourite and the most impressive of these activities is this fantastic bottle rocket! Make sure you have a lot of space to launch the rocket, as ours flew with a lot more force than we expected.

bottle rocket in the ground ready for launching. The rocket is connected to a bicycle pump
Bottle Rocket

Blow Paper into a Bottle

Try and blow a ball of paper into a squash bottle and watch it fly back out. This one had my 6-year-old in hysterics and is a super simple demonstration of air pressure.

Make a Barometer and Measure Air Pressure

Record air pressure over a period of time with this easy to make barometer. You should find that air pressure varies with the weather and can be used to predict the weather.

Barometer made from a jar, balloon and skewer

Egg into a Jar

Watch an egg magically drop into a jar. This happens because the air inside the jar is heated by the lit matches. After heating, the air starts to escape past the egg and as the air cools, the now higher pressure air on the outside forces the egg into the jar.

a boiled peeled egg dropping into a bottle
Drop an egg into a bottle

Make a Fake Lung

Find out how your lungs work with this fun model lung activity, which shows how changes in air pressure move air in and out of the lungs.

Fake lung made with a plastic bottle, straw and balloons

Rising Water Air Pressure Demonstration

Watch water rise up into a glass with this simple air pressure demonstration using a candle, water and glass.

red water rising up into a a glass with a candle inside for an air pressure demonstration

We also love this fun air pressure game on Kids Activities Blog.

Can you think of any more air pressure experiments or activity ideas to demonstrate air pressure for us?

Air Pressure Experiments

Last Updated on January 31, 2025 by Emma Vanstone

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Safety Notice

Science Sparks ( Wild Sparks Enterprises Ltd ) are not liable for the actions of activity of any person who uses the information in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources. Science Sparks assume no liability with regard to injuries or damage to property that may occur as a result of using the information and carrying out the practical activities contained in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources.

These activities are designed to be carried out by children working with a parent, guardian or other appropriate adult. The adult involved is fully responsible for ensuring that the activities are carried out safely.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Arnold

    June 16, 2014 at 5:44 am

    I am definitely going to try this experiments because kids love all these activities and there are generally very eager to experiment new things.

    Reply

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