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How to Mix Two Air Parcels

Parcels of air naturally stay separated due to atmospheric pressure. The parcels closer to the surface of the planet are warmer and denser than the parcels higher in the atmosphere. When one parcel enters a higher parcel, it cools and expands. Creating this process in a lab is a simple process. You can̵7;t simply create an air parcel without a barrier, though. Atmospheric conditions create a strong natural barrier, but chances are you don̵7;t have these conditions in your home or lab. Use a simple, flexible barrier to capture the air such as a bag or bottle.

Things You'll Need

Bags
Straw
Play putty

Instructions

- 1
  Fill two bags halfway full with air. Heat one bag by placing it in the warm sun and set the other in your freezer to cool. This changes the temperature of the parcels, much as they would change in the atmosphere.
- 2
  Wrap a ring of play putty around a straw, 1/4 inch from one of the ends. Place another line of putty 1/4 inch from the other end of the straw.
- 3
  Cover one end of the straw with your finger. Pierce one bag with the open end of the straw and push the putty around the hole, sealing it. Pinch the center of the straw with your finger and free up the other end of the straw.
- 4
  Push the second bag onto the open end of the straw. Seal the hole with putty to stop the air from leaking out. Stop pinching the straw.
- 5
  Squeeze the second bag of air, forcing all the air through the straw and into the first bag. This is similar to how changes in pressure mix two parcels of air in the atmosphere.

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