Microscale Vacuum Apparatus

(12 reviews)

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Microscale Vacuum Apparatus
Item #: VAC-10
$39.95

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Replacement Tube Assembly for Vacuum Apparatus
Item #: VAC-115
$12.95

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Students can produce a vacuum right at their lab stations.

Replacement - 60 ml LuerLOK Syringe

SKU #GAS-140

Availability: In Stock

$2.75

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Replacement - 60 ml LuerLOK Syringe

Replacement - 30 ml LuerLOK Syringe

SKU #GAS-145

Availability: In Stock

$2.50

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Description

Students can now safely produce a vacuum in a small bell jar right at their lab stations. By reducing the pressure in the microscale bell jar, they can expand a balloon, boil water, and even transfer liquids from one pipet to another. They can watch a marshmallow or shaving cream increase in volume as the pressure is reduced and learn about how extremely low pressure affects the world around them. Instead of passively observing a demonstration, students can actively experiment on their own and observe the results right before their eyes.

More advanced high school and college level students can study Boyle's and Raoult's Laws and finally understand the relationship between vapor pressure, temperature, and boiling point. Included with the full instructions and guide is a bonus set of Educational Innovations ideas to challenge you and your students.

Kit includes 8.5 cm (3.5") bell jar, base plate, vacuum pump syringe, suction cup, balloons, pipets, instructions, and Ron Perkins' Thirteen Open-Ended Challenges.

Also Available: GAS-145
These smaller 30 ml syringes are perfect for use with our Microscale Vacuum Apparatus (VAC-10) or Basic Gas Collecting Kit (GAS-300), especially for students with limited hand strength. It will take more strokes to achieve the same results as the 60 ml syringes, but these syringes provide greater control with less effort.

Video

Lesson Ideas

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Reviews

12 reviews

Great kit, not properly assembled

Jan 20, 2022

I LOVE these kits and have used them for years. Great way for kids to develop a particulate model of matter. Both of the kits I ordered this time arrived with the wrong connectors on the tubing, so I couldn't screw the tee hose assembly to the hose with the base connector. Luckily I knew how they were supposed to fit and had extra tubing to make it work, but I imagine this would be incredibly frustrating to someone buying this for the first time.

Angela

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Microscale Vacuum Apparatus

Feb 28, 2019

The microscale vacuum apparatus is an excellent alternative to the larger, more expensive, vacuum pump and bell jar to demonstrate how decreasing the pressure inside the bell jar affects different items such as balloons or marshmallows. Assuming you have the funding, a class set allows for each individual to experience the effects for themselves. The use of the apparatus can also be used to explain how one way valves work, why pumping out the air gets more and more difficult, and why the "vacuum" is not a total absence of air but rather a reduced amount. We have both the small microscale and the larger apparatus available to use, depending on the size of our audience and whether we will be performing as a demonstration or as a hands-on activity. It has proven to be a great asset to our outreach program. The microscale vacuum apparatus is applicable for all ages and backgrounds.

Kenneth Lyle

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great for testing simple 'what if' for pressure vs vacuum situations

Jun 29, 2016

I really love to see the excitement when you let the students play once the simplest instructions are given. It really got the idea across of what a vacuum or low pressure situation meant.

Margaret Wiedower

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after school director.

Feb 26, 2015

A good product.

Lou Barrick

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Great Improvement!

Nov 14, 2014

The redesign of the microscale vacuum pump is a lot easier to use. Students love using it with peeps to study gas laws!

Meghan Knapp

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Great for hands-on learning

Sep 28, 2013

I ordered 3 of these to use in small groups for my high school chemistry class for our unit on gas laws. I wasn't so sure how they would work since I'm more used to a large (expensive!) vacuum pump. They worked great! And the kids really enjoyed being able to do the activities themselves rather than just watching me do them. Highly recommend!

Rachel

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Works well

May 30, 2012

The students were able to comprehend the concept of pressure using this apparatus...they loved the marshmallow demo...held up to heavy use.

Deena Harper

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Big fun!

May 23, 2012

I used this to inflate deflated balloons, turn a dab of shaving cream into a mound of it, make water "boil" below its boiling point, and turn play putty into a bubble filled blob. It's big fun on a micro scale!

Dave L.

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This is a Must have!!

May 23, 2012

This is a MUST have for the science classroom! I use it in my elementary classes - my high school classes. It's great for a demo when explaining gas laws. The students love seeing what happens to different objects. Shaving cream and marshmallows are favorites! The jar is easy to clean and sturdy. so far I haven't had any problems with leakage.

Donna Brown

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GeekydorkGal

May 22, 2012

I used this to demonstrate how you could die on Mars if you didn't have a special suit. This was a fun way for students to learn about atmospheric pressure and why it isn't easy for us to just "visit" another planet. Next year I am planning to use it the same way but include how some extremophiles can live in different atmospheric environments.

Janine Bennette

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My Favorite Lab Addition of the Year!

May 17, 2012

This apparatus for mini vacuum pump experiments is incredible! Instead of watching me operate my big fancy vacuum pump, students themselves can perform air pressure investigations. Observing the effect of pressure changes on a balloon, water, suction cup, and marshmallow chick really helps them identify evidence of invisible forces. You will also uncover and address some of their misconceptions about air pressure. This is definitely the best addition to my lab-based 8th grade Physical Science program! Note: 8th graders are hard on equipment. After up to 9 classes used each set, about 1/3 of them need replacement check valves or syringes. Look for leakage source when the object "breathes" in the bell jar instead of growing continuously larger.

Maureen Horne

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Microscale Vacuum Apparatus

May 16, 2012

This mini bell jar is great for showing students how things respond to a vacuum. Making Peeps grow and expanding bubble wrap are just some of the fun things you can do.

Damon Wahl

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NGSS

This product will support your students' understanding of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)*, as shown in the table below.

Elementary

Middle School

High School

2-PS1-2

Students can use the Microscale Vacuum Apparatus to test a variety of materials; plan and conduct an investigation to describe and classify different kinds of materials by their observable properties.

3-PS2-1

Students can use the Microscale Vacuum Apparatus to plan and conduct an investigation to provide evidence of the effects of balanced and unbalanced forces on the motion of an object.

K-2-ETS1-2

Students can use the Microscale Vacuum Apparatus in an investigation and develop a simple sketch, drawing, or physical model to illustrate how the shape of an object helps it function as needed to solve a given problem.

3-5-ETS1-3

Students can use the Microscale Vacuum Apparatus to plan and carry out fair tests in which variables are controlled and failure points are considered to identify aspects of a model or prototype that can be improved.

MS-ETS1-2

Students can use the Microscale Vacuum Apparatus to test and evaluate design solutions using a systematic process to determine how well they meet the criteria and constraints of the problem.

HS-ETS1-2

Students can use the Microscale Vacuum Apparatus to test and design a solution to complex real-world problem by breaking it down into smaller, more manageable problems that can be solved through engineering.

Suggested Science Idea(s)

2-PS1-2
3-PS2-1
K-2-ETS1-2

Students can use the Microscale Vacuum Apparatus to experiment and investigate the effects of the vacuum or fluctuations of air pressure on solids, liquids, and gases.

Place shaving cream in the apparatus and evacuate the air. Then return the air and make observations. Use a variety of materials to classify them.

3-5-ETS1-3
MS-ETS1-2
HS-ETS1-2

Observe the Microscale Vacuum Apparatus in action. What purpose does it serve? Design, construct and test your own apparatus that solves a real world problem.

* NGSS is a registered trademark of Achieve. Neither Achieve nor the lead states and partners that developed the Next Generation Science Standards were involved in the production of, and do not endorse, this product.

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