To have students increase the boiling temperature of water by increasing the pressure in the container. Key Concepts Water boils when its vapor pressure equals atmospheric pressure. As a result, water's boiling temperature is pressure, rather than temperature, dependent. To have students perform several activities showing that Earth's atmosphere exerts considerable force at the surface Key Concepts Air has mass and volume. Air pressure is a function of the mass and temperature of the atmosphere in conjunction with Earth's gravitational pull.
Air flows from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure to equalize the pressures.
To have students boil water below its typical boiling temperature by reducing the pressure above the surface of the liquid Key Concepts Water boils when its vapor pressure equals atmospheric pressure. As a result, water's boiling temperature is pressure, rather than temperature, dependent. To have students analyze actual data and images to assess whether there is liquid water on Mars Key Concepts Current climatic conditions make the existence of liquid water on Mars virtually impossible. Features on the Martian surface provide strong evidence for past flows of large amounts of water. To help students develop an ongoing connection to the Mars missions.