Experiment: A disposable syringe as a mini pressure chamber

Material: Mini balloon (commercially available as water bombs or water balloons)

Only carry out this experiment if you know what you are doing. This experiment uses parts that can be swallowed. Therefore, special care should be taken when children take part in the experiment. These instructions should supplement, not replace, your own assessment of the risks and measures to prevent them.

In the schematic drawing above, the tap is open, air can flow in and out of the syringe unhindered. The air pressure inside and outside the syringe is the same.

In the lower diagram, the tap is closed. The pressure in the syringe now changes when the plunger is moved, and the effect of the pressure change on the balloon is visible in that it changes size.

How does the pressure change when the plunger is pushed into the syringe?

How does the pressure change when the plunger is pulled out of the syringe?

The plunger is so far inside the syringe that there is just enough room for the balloon. The tap is open so that the internal and external pressures are the same. Now close the tap.

1. Pull the plunger out of the syringe until the air pressure in the syringe corresponds to an altitude of about 1500m/NN. Air pressure at this altitude is about 850hPa.
2. Pull the plunger out of the syringe until the air pressure in the syringe corresponds to an altitude of about 3000m/NN. Air pressure at this altitude is about 700hPa.
3. Pull the plunger out of the syringe until the air pressure in the syringe corresponds to an altitude of about 5500m/NN. Air pressure at this altitude circa 500hPa.

Pressure multiplied by volume equals constant (P x V = constant)

We have purchased the parts that have connections in the Luer system, also called Luer taper, from the company Opitec. Find more sources of supply by searching for Luer taper.

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