Background: Many people enjoy riding in hot air balloons. Some use them for romantic picnics and marriage proposals. Others race in competitions. Being above the earth gives a whole new perspective on the world around us. As the beginning of a hot air balloon ride, the balloon is flat because the pressure inside the balloon equals the pressure outside. When the air inside the balloon is heated, the speed of movement of those air molecules increases and the pressure goes up. After a while the balloon is completely expanded and the flight is ready to take off.

Situation: It had been getting hotter and hotter all day. Matt looked outside at the thermometer, the mercury was definitely much higher than it had been this morning.

Question: Was the mercury expanding or contracting?

Situation: Matt couldn't take this heat any longer. It had been getting hotter and hotter all day. Matt looked outside at the thermometer, the mercury was definitely much higher than it had been this morning.

Question: What was making the mercury expand?

Situation: Matt couldn't take this heat any longer. It had been getting hotter and hotter all day. Matt looked outside at the thermometer, the mercury was definitely much higher than it had been this morning.

Question: Where the mercury molecules speeding up or slowing down?

Situation: Matt couldn't take this heat any longer. It had been getting hotter and hotter all day. Matt looked outside at the thermometer, the mercury was definitely much higher than it had been this morning.

Question: Where the mercury molecules spreading out or condensing?

Situation: Matt couldn't take this heat any longer. It had been getting hotter and hotter all day. Matt looked outside at the thermometer, the mercury was definitely much higher than it had been this morning.

Question: Was the pressure inside the thermometer rising or decreasing??

Situation: Matt couldn't take this heat any longer. It had been getting hotter and hotter all day. Matt looked outside at the thermometer, the mercury was definitely much higher than it had been this morning.

Question: As night falls will the mercury rise or go down?

Situation: Matt couldn't take this heat any longer. It had been getting hotter and hotter all day. Matt looked outside at the thermometer, the mercury was definitely much higher than it had been this morning.

Question: As night falls will the mercury particles speed up or slow down?

Situation: Matt couldn't take this heat any longer. It had been getting hotter and hotter all day. Matt looked outside at the thermometer, the mercury was definitely much higher than it had been this morning.

Question: As night falls will the pressure in the thermometer increase or decrease??

Situation: Matt couldn't take this heat any longer. It had been getting hotter and hotter all day. Matt looked outside at the thermometer, the mercury was definitely much higher than it had been this morning.

Question: What does rising mercury in a thermometer mean?

Situation: Matt couldn't take this heat any longer. It had been getting hotter and hotter all day. Matt looked outside at the thermometer, the mercury was definitely much higher than it had been this morning.

Question: Will mecury molecules spread out or contract as the temperature decreases??

Situation: The carnival worker was almost done setting up. He just needed to inflate the bouncy house. Mark grabbed the pump and attached it to the valve on the side of the bouncy house. He listened as the air swooshed into the house. Soon the house went from flat to fully expanded and was ready for the night.

Question: Before inflating was the air pressure in the bouncy house the same or different than outside?

Situation: The carnival worker was almost done setting up. He just needed to inflate the bouncy house. Mark grabbed the pump and attached it to the valve on the side of the bouncy house. He listened as the air swooshed into the house. Soon the house went from flat to fully expanded and was ready for the night.

Question: After inflating was the air pressure in the bouncy house the same or different than outside?

Situation: The carnival worker was almost done setting up. He just needed to inflate the bouncy house. Mark grabbed the pump and attached it to the valve on the side of the bouncy house. He listened as the air swooshed into the house. Soon the house went from flat to fully expanded and was ready for the night.

Question: Was the pressure inside the house higher when it was flat or inflated?

Situation: The carnival worker was almost done setting up. He just needed to inflate the bouncy house. Mark grabbed the pump and attached it to the valve on the side of the bouncy house. He listened as the air swooshed into the house. Soon the house went from flat to fully expanded and was ready for the night.

Question: Was the pressure inside the house lower when it was flat or inflated?

Situation: The carnival worker was almost done setting up. He just needed to inflate the bouncy house. Mark grabbed the pump and attached it to the valve on the side of the bouncy house. He listened as the air swooshed into the house. Soon the house went from flat to fully expanded and was ready for the night.

Question: Are the molecules inside the house moving faster when it was flat or inflated?

Situation: The carnival worker was almost done setting up. He just needed to inflate the bouncy house. Mark grabbed the pump and attached it to the valve on the side of the bouncy house. He listened as the air swooshed into the house. Soon the house went from flat to fully expanded and was ready for the night.

Question: Are the molecules inside the house moving slower when it was flat or inflated?