Have you ever heard of a diver talking about ‘feeling pressure’ when they’re underwater? This is because water is much denser than air. A volume of water 10 metres thick applies the same amount of pressure as the entire Earth’s atmosphere (which is nearly 130km thick!). So, when a diver descends 20m underwater, they would experience the same pressure as two lots of Earth’s atmosphere pushing down on them. However, you don’t have to be a diver to see how depth affects water pressure. Just by using a recycled plastic bottle, you can experience it at home with this simple activity.
Step 1: Ensure your bottle is empty and safely remove any labels.
Step 2: Use your ruler to measure 7cm from the bottom of the bottle. Make a line with your marker.
Step 3: Now measure 20cm from the bottom of the bottle and add another line.
Step 4: Ask an adult to poke the nail or tack into each of the lines you’ve made.You only need one hole on each line.
Step 5: Cover up the two holes with tape.
Step 6: Fill up the bottle with water and secure the lid.
Step 7: Stand the bottle near the side of a sink, with the holes pointing towards it.
Step 8: Remove the tape and see what happens! Record your findings in the boxes below.
Now have a go at answering our questions:
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We were thrilled by the imaginative and spooky entries we received for our October competition, ‘Spooky Spikes Story Contest’. From ghostly hedgehogs to thorny devils, your stories brought the world of spiky creatures to life in the most creative ways. A huge thank you to everyone who participated –...