Topic: Environmental Sustainability

Air Quality Sensor

Difficulty

Easy

Objective
When we look outside it’s easy to assume that the air we breathe is clean and unpolluted as we can’t see it! However, often this isn’t the case. In most cities, air pollution is very common. It can be caused by the emissions from vehicles such as cars, trucks and buses, or from factories and buildings. Natural disasters such as bush fires can also significantly affect air quality, even if the fires are hundreds of kilometres from you! This is why we need to make an air quality sensor.

Materials

  • 1x piece of white or clear plastic (eg. Plastic plate)
  • Petroleum Jelly (vasoline)
  • Duct Tape/Sticky Tape

Method

1

Put an even coat of the petroleum jelly onto the plate. This will be your air quality sensor.

2

Using the tape, secure the plate somewhere outside with good circulation. Areas like a fence or clothesline work well.

3

Leave the air quality sensor in place for 24 hours.

4

After 24 hours bring the sensor inside and analyse the particles on it! These are the air pollution.

Extra Challenge

For an extra challenge try placing sensors in different places or on different days and compare the results.