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Practical Uses of Math and Science

A collection of brief examples showing how math and science
topics taught in K-12 classes can be used in interesting settings,
including every day life.

 

Featured PUMAS Example

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    Why Don't Clouds Fall Out of the Sky?

    All of you have seen big, puffy clouds "floating" in the sky on a summer's day. Why do clouds stay in the sky? Why don't they fall down? Maybe clouds "float" for the same reason that helium balloons float. Maybe they are lighter than air. That can't be true because we know that clouds are made of water. Water is not lighter than air - water does not float. So why don't clouds fall out of the sky? The two biggest reasons that clouds stay in the sky are 1) small drops, and 2) wind. Small drops of water fall more slowly than big drops.

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The PUMAS examples are aimed primarily at helping pre-college teachers enrich their

presentation of topics in math and science.

Examples

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