Vacuums
Science: KS3, topic 2.3.8
Vacuums
A vacuum is described as a space totally devoid of matter.
What is a Vacuum?
- Vacuums contain no particles and are totally devoid of any matter.
- It is from the Latin word vacuus meaning void.
Making a vacuum
- Vacuums can be created in the lab by using a vacuum pump which sucks out air from a container like a vacuum cleaner (hoover) sucks up dirt from a floor.
Pressure in a vacuum
- Vacuums have very low pressures measured in pascals.
Waves and vacuums
- Electromagnetic waves can travel in vacuums as they do not need particles to move.
Examples of vacuums
- Space is an example as a vacuum.
- In the lab if you put a marshmallow in a jar and attach it to a vacuum pump and turn it on the marshmallow will expand.
Test yourself on Vacuums
A sealed container has a pressure of 100,000 Pa before a vacuum pump is used. After pumping, the pressure drops to 5 Pa. What does this tell you about the container?
What happens to a marshmallow in a sealed jar when a vacuum pump removes the air from the jar?
Select the true statement in each pair
The word 'vacuum' comes from the Latin word vacuus, meaning void. If a container is described as 'vacuus', what would it contain?