Year 5 Science – How do pneumatic and hydraulic systems work?

Year 5 have had an exciting week in Science, exploring hydraulic and pneumatic systems as part of our ‘Is there a need for speed?’ topic.

The children were challenged to use two syringes (pistons) and plastic tubing to model a pneumatic system, before adding water to transform it into a hydraulic system. Through hands-on investigation, they discovered how pressure is created through compression and how force can be transferred.

There was plenty of excitement as we tested the limits of pressure—resulting in a few surprise splashes when the pressure became too great! It was a fun, memorable way to deepen our understanding of how these systems work in real life.