Objective/Goals:
The purpose of this activity is to show how science is fun. Sometimes when children hear science they think a bunch of information is being talked about – this is not the case here. We are going to create an experiment and it involves having fun. The children can also work together by helping one another doing the project. This experiment will teach the children how clouds are made with water and air.
Supplies:
- Warm water
- Small jars with lids
- Ice cubes
- Hairspray
Activity Plan:
Ever look up into the sky and wonder how clouds form? A great science activity like this “cloud formed in a jar” can be so fun and simple. We all are scientists and we are here to weather the storm.
Let’s begin…
- Pour warm water into the jar and swirl it around to warm the inside of the whole jar.
- Turn the lid upside down and place several ice cubes on top of it. Place the lid onto the jar.
- Then remove the lid and give a quick spray of aerosol hairspray. Replace the lid.
- Remove the lid and watch the cloud escape.
Yes, we just did our first science experiment.
Let’s talk and find other ways we could do it differently.
Why not test what happens when you add cold water to the jar instead of hot water.
This will help better understand why both warm air and cool air are needed to form the cloud.
- First, you need warm moist air.
- Next, you need a cooling process.
- Lastly, you need a cloud condensation nucleus or something to start the cloud.
By pouring warm water into a jar and trapping it, you create the first step which is warm, moist air.
This warm air rises and meets with the cool air at the top of the jar which is made by the ice cubes.
The hairspray provides the cloud condensation nuclei.
The water vapor inside the jar cools down, it begins to form around the hairspray nuclei into many droplets. When you remove the lid, the swirling cloud is released!
Thanks for making Science fun! Till next time, Neddie the Mad Scientist.
Activity by Neddra English, Hardy Site