Airbag Above the Snow

In the picture

1. 1The inflated balloon on the skier’s back
2. 2The shoulder harness over the jacket
3. 3The skier’s helmet above the sliding snow
4. 4Snow granules streaming under the balloon

Examples

• A life jacket keeps a swimmer on top of rough water.
• Shaking a cereal box makes the big pieces rise to the top.

Quiz: Airbag Above the Snow (Age 12)

1. 1

   Why does inflating the airbag help keep a skier near the surface in moving snow?

   • It increases the skier’s volume, so the moving snow tends to lift them.
   • It makes the skier much heavier, so the snow cannot push them down.
   • It creates a warm pocket that melts the snow around the skier.
2. 2

   In an avalanche, what is the inflated airbag most like?

   • A buoyancy aid that helps a person float.
   • An anchor that holds a person in place.
   • A shield that blocks all snow from touching a person.
3. 3

   What does the airbag do when an avalanche starts?

   • It inflates into a large balloon in about two seconds.
   • It slowly fills with air over several minutes.
   • It stays folded and only makes a warning sound.

The answers, each with its explanation, are in the app. This lesson has left the free week, so its quiz is part of the subscription.