Breathe in.
Feel that?
Breathe in deeper, as big a breath as you can manage and hold it for a few seconds. What do you feel in your chest? Think about what is happening to your lungs. (Keep breathing, you must be alive to operate this lab!) We are constantly being exposed to the behavior of gases. Every time we breathe in or out, we experience gases filling our lungs.

Hot air balloon pilots need gases to fly their balloons. Hot air balloons usually fly in the morning. Why? Do all hot air balloon pilots just love to get up at 4:30 in the morning? Probably not, pilots need plenty of sleep or they fall out of their balloons. So what is special about early morning to a hot air balloon pilot? Think like a scientist!

As a scientist, think about this question: What would happen if gases didn't act the way that they do? Each time we pump up a tire, blow up a balloon, or use a spray can, we are depending on gases to work a certain way.

So why do gases act the way they do? Think about your lungs, why did you feel what you felt? Think about hot air balloons, what makes them rise or sink?...

In the following experiments, we will start to investigate the pieces of this puzzle.

This symbol will appear throughout the labs, and is a reminder that you and your lab partner will discuss and record ideas. Scientists rarely work in isolation. They often discuss and explore hypothesis, data, data analysis, and results in partnership with one or more scientists.