Experiment: How To Build A Tornado

Materials:
Food coloring
Dishwashing soap
Glass jar

Procedure:
Add enough water to fill ¾ of the glass jar.
Put in some food coloring, as well as a teaspoon of dishwashing detergent.
Place the lid back on the jar and shake it hard for 20 seconds
Twist the jar hard.

Results:
The liquid should form a funnel that resembles a real tornado. The vortex’s body will even lengthen and shorten, just like the real storm.

[ back to graphics version ]

Forces of Nature: ThinkQuest 2000 (Team #C003603)

http://library.thinkquest.org/C003603/english/experiments-tornadoes01.shtml [ f o r c e s   o f   n a t u r e   :   a c t i v i t i e s ]

Experiment: How To Build A Tornado

Materials:
Food coloring
Dishwashing soap
Glass jar

Procedure:
Add enough water to fill ¾ of the glass jar.
Put in some food coloring, as well as a teaspoon of dishwashing detergent.
Place the lid back on the jar and shake it hard for 20 seconds
Twist the jar hard.

Results:
The liquid should form a funnel that resembles a real tornado. The vortex’s body will even lengthen and shorten, just like the real storm.

[ back to graphics version ]

Forces of Nature: ThinkQuest 2000 (Team #C003603)

http://library.thinkquest.org/C003603/english/experiments-tornadoes01.shtml