Title:                "Trick for our Trade

        Name:                Peter  V. Montel

        E-Mail:                DPMontel@Juno.com  or  MtnLion45@AOL.com

        Key words:        magic, invisible, air pressure, gravity, energy

        Text:                    We all strive to make our lessons interesting to our students.  Many of us look for a "hook"
                                       to capture that interest.  The introduction of magic into the curriculum lesson is fun and
                                       amazing for all.  Through a few acts of "magic" associated with lessons on
                                       energy,  air pressure, gravity, and brain storming with the scientific method, it should be
                                       seen how lessons can be " jazzed up" .   Have fun, perform, and awe your students.
                                        There is a performer in all of us.
 
        Resources:         Magic and Showmenship for  Teachers  by Mr.Allen J.McCormack,Prof.
                                        San Diego State University
 
 
 

        Standards:
 

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                                    The particular science lesson for which I used magic had to do with the topic of Air Pressure
                                    and Gravity.  The concept of air press does involve understanding gravity.  The textbooks
                                    all define air pressure as "earth's gravity pulling the air towards the earth's surface exerting
                                    pressure". The magic "hook" involves The Anti-Gravity Plate.  It is used to help the students
                                    appreciate and help them understand air pressure better.  It is a wonderful way to introduce
                                    almost any lesson on gravity and air pressure.

OBJECTIVE:            SWBAT understand how gravity is responsible for earth's air pressure.
                                    MAGIC POINT is to help stimulate review and reinforce general knowledge about the
                                    concepts of gravity and air pressure.  Also, to challenge the higher level thinking skills of
                                    students.

PROCEDURE:        Make your own "anti-gravity plate" by cutting a nine inch by nine inch square of cardboard.
                                    Cover it completely with aluminum foil.  Prepare a sturdy clear plastic drinking cup with a small
                                    hole drilled into the side just above the bottom of the cup.  Next prepare a piece of newspaper
                                    and a thin flat disk of plastic that are slightly larger in diameter than the opening of the top of the
                                    cup.  The demonstration must begin on a strong story line build up and
                                    showmanship.  The story could be anything you feel comfortable with to explain that you
                                    have an "anti-gravity device that can eliminate gravity.  The magic trick is accompanied by first
                                    holding up the "special " cup (hole in the side at bottom), with your thumb holding it on the
                                    bottom, at a position opposite the hole . Your other fingers are holding  the cup firmly with one
                                    fingertip placed over the small hole.  Before you fill the cup to the top with water, the plastic
                                    disk you prepared should be attached to the section of newspaper by slightly wetting the paper
                                    and placing over the disk to hide it.

                                    Proceed with your story and place the paper/plastic over the opening of the cup.  Then with
                                    both hands - one hand holding the bottom of the cup, covering the small hole, and the other
                                    hand  holding the paper/plastic in place over the opening of the cup- turn the cup over.  Slowly
                                    announce that when you remove your hand from the top of the cup (now facing down) the water
                                    doesn't come out. Ask why not?  The answer should be because air pressure being exerted
                                    on the paper from the force of gravity on the air at the layer of the atmosphere we are at.  Now
                                    place the "anti-gravity" plate underneath the cup and state the obvious "that you can remove the
                                    pressure due to gravity".  Peel only the paper away from the cup, with the clear plastic, unseen
                                    by the audience, will still be in place to hold "up" the water.

                                    Prove the power of the "anti-gravity" plate by holding the upside down cup with "anti-gravity"
                                    plate over a container.  Quickly remove the "plate" with a flurry while simultaneously lifting
                                    your fingertip slightly from the small hole.  The results are :  change in pressure in the cup and
                                    the water will fall out due to the "return of gravity".

                                    To continue now that you "hooked" the students , a lesson on the four layers of the atmosphere
                                    can be discussed with the references to the effects of gravity and air pressure, temperature,
                                    elevation, and water vapor.

MATERIALS:            Sturdy clear plastic cup  -   cardboard   -    aluminum foil    -    water   -    large container/ sink
                                    flat thin clear plastic disk   -    small drill / knife    -    scissors
 

EVALUATION:        A summary of the points of the lesson are to be made to have students describe again what air
                                    pressure, gravity, and the layers of the atmosphere are.  And of course: How did the water really
                                    stay up in the cup when the paper was removed?,   can be discussed.
 

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