Outline

Lesson Plan

Power Point

Building Plans

Photos

Credits

Introduction (less than 5 minutes):

Introduce myself to students and give them some background information regarding my project.

Discussion of Basic Concepts (15 minutes):

Show Power Point slides to introduce the idea of pressure. Define formulae and give examples to help students understand the difference between force and pressure.

First Demonstration (5 minutes):

Attach 6 drinking straws to a plastic garbage bag and seal all seams with packing tape. Have one student sit on a piece of plywood placed on top of the garbage bag, and have 6 students blow into the straws and lift the student off of the ground.

Pascal’s Law and Hydraulics (15 minutes):

Continue Power Point slides and introduce Pascal’s Law. Go through some sample calculations for hydraulic systems. Calculate the expected results of the next demonstration.

Main Demonstration (10 minutes):

Start with larger weights than were calculated to be able to lift the heavy weight on the hydraulic system. Decrease the weight with each trial and see if the heavy weight can be lifted with as little weight as calculated. Discuss possible sources of error and deviations from an idealized system.  See building plans and photos for more info about the main demo.