International Public Science Day 2003 at MOSH!
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Create your Own Clouds (experiment)

Fun Projects

Bird Maker (craft)
Centripetal Force (experiment)
Comet vs. Meteor (craft)
Cloud Making (experiment)
Particle Density (experiment)
Miniature Glider (craft)
Miniature Rocket (experiment)
Cloud Spotting (activity)

Materials:

  • 1 Large Clear Plastic Bottle With Cap
  • 1 Measuring Cup
  • Cold Water
  • Hot Water
  • Matches ( have an adult help with the matches )
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Procedure:

  • Pour 1/3 cup of cold water into a clear plastic bottle and place cap on it. Shake the bottle for 30 seconds and set it on your table.
  • Squeeze the bottle and then release the pressure. Repeat this process several times. In this step you are saturating the atmosphere in the bottle. By squeezing the bottle, you increase the air pressure inside the bottle, which increases the air temperature. With the air heated, more water moves into the air saturating it. When you release the pressure on the bottle, you decrease the air pressure. This lowers the air temperature and causes condensation on the bottle. These are the principles that will allow you to create a cloud in the next step.
  • Remove the cap from the bottle and have an adult light the match and hold the match over the mouth of the bottle. Quickly squeeze the bottle to extinguish the match; then release slowly release the pressure to draw smoke into the bottle. Replace and tighten the cap. Repeat step #2.

    In this step, a cloud should have formed above the water inside the bottle. As in Step#2, squeezing the bottle forced condensation inside the bottle. Now that you have added smoke into the bottle the water has something to condense upon. The condensed water forms the small cloud inside the bottle.
  • Rinse the bottle thoroughly and pour 1/3 cup of hot tap water into it. Shake the bottle for 30 seconds and place it on your table.
  • Squeeze the bottle and then release the pressure. Repeat this process several times. Then repeat Step #3, extinguishing the match over the mouth of the bottle and drawing the smoke inside. Then repeat Step#2 again, squeezing and releasing the bottle to create a cloud.

    In this step, a bigger cloud should form in the bottle. This is because the hot water has heated the atmosphere inside the bottle, so it is able to hold more water than before. So when condensation is forced inside the bottle, more water condenses and a larger cloud forms.

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