| Learn about: clouds, condensation, and weather |
Have you ever thought about how clouds form? Can you make a cloud here on Earth? When warm moist air rises it expands and pressure drops. When this occurs, the water vapor in the air condenses around dust or other particles in the air and forms clouds. You can duplicate this process here on Earth now that you know the ingredients of a cloud: water vapor, dust and low pressure. Materials: Clear plastic bottle such as a 2 liter drink bottle; matches and an adult to help you use them; warm water Procedure: 1. Fill the bottle about 1/4 to 1/3 full of warm water. As the warm water evaporates, it adds water vapor to the air in the bottle. This is the first ingredient needed to make a cloud! Have an adult strike a match and let it burn a little. 2. Drop the match into the bottle and quickly put on the cap, trapping the smoke inside. Dust, smoke or other particles in the air are the second ingredient needed to make a cloud. The smoke particles give the water vapor a center to condense around. 3. Squeeze the bottle hard. As you let go, the cloud should form. The third ingredient in a cloud is a drop in air pressure. You have just created this pressure drop by first raising the pressure (squeezing the bottle) and then letting go. 4. If the cloud did not form, light another match and try again. If it still did not form, try warmer water. If it STILL did not form, perhaps you didn’t squeeze hard enough, or there could be a hole in the bottle. Now, explore! Record your observations during the procedures and notice how hard you squeeze the bottle and hot the water was... what do you think is happening? Form your hypotheses.
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