You don't need a scale to determine weight. This activity provides a way to use the concepts of air pressure and surface area to determine the weight of a vehicle by calculating the amount of weight each tire supports.

Concepts

weight, area, area of rectangles, air pressure, surface area, units of measurement, technology resources

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Instructional Ideas

• Determine the amount of pressure needed to lift a heavy object
• Provide an explanation of air pressure and its measurement of psi

Classroom Considerations

• Requires access to a car parked on a flat surface

Pros

• Calculations are easy to complete
• Pictures provide a visual of what participants need to do

Cons

• The activity is difficult to complete with large groups

Common Core

7.G.B.6 HSN-Q.A.1 MP2 MP6