Fun and easy science experiments for kids and adults.
Lung volume test
Biology
Take a deep breath before doing this experiment about lung capacity.
| Gilla: | Dela: | |
Video
Materials
- 1 large bottle with cork - 1.5 L (51 fl oz) is enough for a small child, 5 L (169 fl oz) for an adult
- 2 drinking straws (one must have a bend) or a piece of tube
- Water
- A sink or tub
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4
Step 5
Step 6
You can measure how much air there is by drawing a line on the bottle. Or by weighing the bottle before and after exhaling.
If you are an adult, you need a larger container than a regular plastic bottle. 5 L (169 fl oz) or more is perfect.
Explanation
In this demonstration, you have measured how much air your lungs can hold. The lungs grow as a child gets older, but also if you exercise. The larger the lungs, the more air is transferred to the lungs in one breath, and the more oxygen can be transferred to the body during exercise. A fit person with large lungs also does not need to breathe as frequently at rest in order to meet the body's oxygen requirements. What you measure in this demonstration is actually not the entire lung capacity, but the vital capacity. You always have a small amount of air left in the lungs, which you only can get out by hitting them hard (which is not recommended!). This reserve volume is called the residual volume and keeps the lungs stretched and able to work. If you do loose it, it takes a while before breathing returns to normal. In healthcare, a spirometer is used to measure the volume of air inspired or expired by the lungs. It works according to the same principles as the device you built in this demonstration.Experiment
You can turn this demonstration into an experiment. This will make it a better science project. To do that, try answering one of the following questions. The answer to the question will be your hypothesis. Then test the hypothesis by doing the experiment.- How does the vital capacity differ between different people (you can compare this by drawing lines on the bottle)?
- How does the tidal volume differ between different people? (The tidal volume is the volume of air moved during a normal, relaxed, breath.)
- How does the expiratory reserve volume differ between different people? (The expiratory reserve volume is the volume of extra air you can force out after a normal, relaxed, breath.)
Variation
A simpler version of this demonstration is to simply inflate a balloon.| Gilla: | Dela: | |
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© The Experiment Archive. Fun and easy science experiments for kids and adults. In biology, chemistry, physics, earth science, astronomy, technology, fire, air and water. To do in preschool, school, after school and at home. Also science fair projects and a teacher's guide.
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© The Experiment Archive. Fun and easy science experiments for kids and adults. In biology, chemistry, physics, earth science, astronomy, technology, fire, air and water. To do in preschool, school, after school and at home. Also science fair projects and a teacher's guide.
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