Epic Lung Capacity Measurer Challenge
⚠️ Safety Warning
Do not share the tubing for hygiene reasons. Each person should use their own tube or clean it between uses.
All experiments require adult supervision.
Materials You'll Need
Gather these 6 items before starting
💡 Tip: Check off items as you gather them to stay organized!
Step-by-Step Instructions
Follow these 8 steps carefully
In this challenge, fill the large plastic bottle completely with water.
Mark volume lines on the outside using a measuring cup and marker (every 100ml).
Fill the basin halfway with water.
Hold your hand over the bottle opening, flip it upside down, and place it in the basin without letting air in.
Insert one end of the flexible tubing into the bottle opening underwater.
Take the deepest breath you possibly can.
Blow all your air through the tube into the inverted bottle.
The water displaced shows your lung capacity! Read the volume from your markings.
✅ Remember: Take your time with each step and ask an adult for help if needed!
The Science Behind It 🔬
Your lungs are amazing organs that hold more air than you might think! The average adult lung capacity is about 6 liters, while children typically have 2-4 liters depending on age and size. This experiment uses water displacement to measure the volume of air you exhale. When you blow air into the inverted bottle, the air pushes water out, and the amount of water displaced equals the volume of air from your lungs. Athletes and musicians often have larger lung capacities because they train their respiratory muscles. Your lungs contain about 300 million tiny air sacs called alveoli! The physics behind this experiment was first discovered hundreds of years ago and is still being studied today.