Air Around Us – Class 6 Science (Notes & Questions Answers)
This page presents easy-to-understand Class 6 Science notes and a complete set of questions and answers for the chapter Air Around Us. The content follows NCERT, keeps explanations student-friendly, and includes practice questions arranged as 7 MCQs, 7 Very Short Answers, 7 Short Answers, and 7 Long Answers. Use the jump buttons above to navigate quickly.
📘 Notes: Air Around Us (Class 6 Science)
1) What is Air?
Air is an invisible mixture of gases and tiny particles that surrounds Earth like a protective blanket called the atmosphere. Though we cannot see air, we can feel it when it moves, and we observe its effects in many daily activities—filling a ball, flying a kite, or moving a windmill. Air is present everywhere around us, even in spaces that seem empty.
2) Composition of Air
Air is a mixture. The main component is nitrogen (about four-fifths of the air). The next most abundant gas is oxygen (about one-fifth). A very small part is made of other gases such as carbon dioxide, argon, and water vapour. Dust and tiny particles may also be present, especially near busy roads or indoor cooking areas without proper ventilation.
- Nitrogen: Important for living things. It becomes usable for plants when converted (fixed) by certain bacteria or during lightning.
- Oxygen: Essential for breathing and for the slow release of energy in living organisms.
- Carbon dioxide: Needed by plants for photosynthesis; produced during breathing and when fuels burn.
- Water vapour: Varies from place to place; influences humidity, clouds, dew, and rain.
- Dust/smoke particles: Make air hazy; regular cleaning and greenery help keep indoor and outdoor air fresher.
3) Properties of Air (Observed through simple activities)
- Air occupies space: A balloon inflates because air takes up space inside it.
- Air has mass: A blown-up football weighs slightly more than a deflated one due to the air inside.
- Air exerts pressure: This pressure allows drinking through a straw and helps in using hand pumps.
- Air can be compressed: In a syringe with the tip closed, pushing the plunger compresses the trapped air.
- Air is transparent and generally colourless: It lets us see things clearly around us.
4) Oxygen and Breathing
Living beings need oxygen for respiration. During respiration, oxygen helps release energy from food. Land animals absorb oxygen from air, while aquatic animals depend on dissolved oxygen in water. Plants use oxygen for respiration as well, but during daylight they produce more oxygen than they use, through photosynthesis.
5) Role of Carbon Dioxide and Plants
Photosynthesis is a process by which green plants make food using carbon dioxide and water in the presence of sunlight and chlorophyll, releasing oxygen as a by-product. This balances the amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the air. Large green areas with many trees support cleaner and fresher air.
6) Water Vapour, Humidity, and Weather
Air contains water vapour, and the amount of vapour present is called humidity. When humid air cools, water vapour condenses to form tiny droplets. This leads to clouds, fog, dew, and sometimes gentle rain. Warm places often feel “sticky” because of higher humidity. Dry air allows sweat to evaporate faster, giving a cooling effect.
7) Wind and Moving Air
Moving air is called wind. Gentle wind makes kites fly and helps clothes dry faster. The movement of air happens due to differences in temperature and pressure. Warm air becomes lighter and rises; cooler air moves in to take its place, creating a flow we feel as wind.
8) Air Pressure in Everyday Life
Air pressure is the push that air exerts on surfaces. It makes vacuum-sealed packets tight, helps suction cups stick temporarily, and supports devices like droppers and syringes. Even sports equipment—like a well-inflated ball—depends on proper air pressure for good performance.
9) Atmosphere as a Protective Cover
The atmosphere acts like a soft shield around Earth. It helps maintain suitable temperatures between day and night and scatters sunlight so we enjoy daytime brightness without direct glare. The presence of air also reduces sudden heating and cooling of the surface.
10) Clean Air Practices (Simple Habits)
- Grow and care for plants—green leaves refresh air.
- Ensure proper ventilation at home and school.
- Keep indoor spaces clean; reduce smoke from cooking by using chimneys or exhausts where possible.
- Use cycles or shared rides for short distances when convenient.
- Support community clean-up days and tree-care activities.
11) Everyday Observations that Prove Air is Around Us
- A kite rises when wind pushes against it.
- Parachutes and gliders work because air offers resistance and support.
- Ceiling fans move air so rooms feel comfortable.
- Drying clothes outside is faster on a breezy day.
- Bubbles in water are tiny pockets of air moving upward.
12) Quick Recap
- Air is a mixture—mainly nitrogen and oxygen, with small amounts of other gases and water vapour.
- Air has mass, occupies space, and exerts pressure.
- Oxygen supports breathing; plants balance gases through photosynthesis.
- Humidity and wind influence daily weather experiences.
- Good habits help keep air fresh and pleasant.
📝 Questions & Answers – Air Around Us
Part A: Multiple Choice Questions (7)
1) The major gas in air is:
- A) Oxygen
- B) Nitrogen
- C) Carbon dioxide
- D) Argon
Answer: B) Nitrogen
2) Moving air is called:
- A) Vapour
- B) Mist
- C) Wind
- D) Dew
Answer: C) Wind
3) Plants take in carbon dioxide mainly for:
- A) Respiration at night
- B) Photosynthesis
- C) Forming clouds
- D) Evaporation
Answer: B) Photosynthesis
4) Which statement is correct?
- A) Air does not occupy space
- B) Air has no mass
- C) Air occupies space and has mass
- D) Air cannot be compressed
Answer: C) Air occupies space and has mass
5) The gas essential for breathing is:
- A) Nitrogen
- B) Oxygen
- C) Helium
- D) Neon
Answer: B) Oxygen
6) The amount of water vapour in air is called:
- A) Dew
- B) Humidity
- C) Breeze
- D) Pressure
Answer: B) Humidity
7) During photosynthesis, plants release:
- A) Nitrogen
- B) Oxygen
- C) Water vapour
- D) Argon
Answer: B) Oxygen
Part B: Very Short Answer Questions (7)
1) Name the two main gases present in air.
Answer: Nitrogen and oxygen.
2) What is the blanket of air around Earth called?
Answer: Atmosphere.
3) Which gas do we breathe in for respiration?
Answer: Oxygen.
4) What is moving air called?
Answer: Wind.
5) Which process in plants uses carbon dioxide to make food?
Answer: Photosynthesis.
6) Name the component that makes air feel “sticky.”
Answer: Water vapour (humidity).
7) Does air occupy space? Give a one-word answer.
Answer: Yes.
Part C: Short Answer Questions (7)
1) Why does a balloon inflate when air is blown into it?
Answer: Air occupies space. When blown into a balloon, air fills the empty space and stretches the balloon’s surface, inflating it.
2) How do plants help keep the air balanced?
Answer: Plants use carbon dioxide for photosynthesis and release oxygen. This balances the amounts of these gases in the air.
3) Give two simple examples that show air exerts pressure.
Answer: Drinking through a straw and using a dropper both rely on air pressure differences to move liquids.
4) What is humidity? How does it affect us?
Answer: Humidity is the amount of water vapour in air. High humidity slows evaporation of sweat, making us feel warmer; low humidity allows faster cooling.
5) Why is proper ventilation important indoors?
Answer: It allows fresh air to enter and stale air to move out, helping rooms feel pleasant and comfortable.
6) State two ways in which wind is useful.
Answer: Wind helps in drying clothes and can run windmills that perform work such as pumping water or generating electricity.
7) What is meant by “air has mass”?
Answer: Air contributes to weight. For example, an inflated ball is slightly heavier than the same ball without air.
Part D: Long Answer Questions (7)
1) Explain the composition of air and the role of each component.
Answer: Air is a mixture dominated by nitrogen and oxygen with small amounts of carbon dioxide, argon, and water vapour. Nitrogen forms the largest share; it eventually becomes usable for plants after natural conversion. Oxygen supports breathing and energy release in living beings. Carbon dioxide is used by plants for photosynthesis, while animals produce it during breathing. Argon and other noble gases are present in very small amounts. Water vapour changes with weather and influences clouds, dew, and gentle rain.
2) Describe four properties of air that we can demonstrate with simple observations.
Answer: (i) Air occupies space: Balloons inflate because air fills them. (ii) Air has mass: An inflated football weighs a bit more than a deflated one. (iii) Air exerts pressure: Straws and droppers work due to pressure differences. (iv) Air can be compressed: In a closed syringe, pushing the plunger compresses the trapped air.
3) How do respiration and photosynthesis together maintain the balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide?
Answer: Animals (including humans) breathe in oxygen and release carbon dioxide during respiration. Green plants, in daylight, use carbon dioxide to make food via photosynthesis and release oxygen. These opposite flows keep the levels of these gases fairly steady in air.
4) What is humidity? Explain its effects with everyday examples.
Answer: Humidity is the amount of water vapour in the air. On very humid days, sweat evaporates slowly, so we feel warmer. Clothes also take longer to dry. In drier air, evaporation is faster, which is why breezy, less humid weather feels more comfortable.
5) Explain how moving air (wind) forms and mention two helpful uses.
Answer: When air warms, it becomes lighter and rises. Cooler air moves to replace it, creating a flow called wind. Uses include drying clothes quicker, helping kites fly, moving sailboats, and running windmills that can pump water or generate electricity.
6) List good practices that support fresh air at home and school.
Answer: Keep rooms ventilated by opening windows at suitable times, allow sunlight to enter, care for indoor and outdoor plants, use chimneys or exhausts where needed, and maintain clean surroundings so air feels pleasant to breathe.
7) “Air has pressure” — justify with three examples and clear reasoning.
Answer: (i) Straws: Sipping works because air pressure helps push liquid up when we reduce pressure in the straw by sucking. (ii) Droppers: When we squeeze a dropper, air is pushed out; releasing it lets liquid rise due to pressure difference. (iii) Suction cups: Pressing them reduces air between the cup and surface; outside air pressure holds the cup for a while.
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