This easy tornado in a bottle experiment is pretty exciting for kids to do! It’s the perfect complement to a weather science unit, too. It’s hands-on learning about tornadoes that is safe! Read on for the step-by-step instructions to set up your own tornado in a bottle experiment.
Explore Tornadoes For Spring Science
Spring is the perfect time of year for science! There are so many fun themes to explore. For this time of the year, our favorite topics to teach kids about spring include plants, rainbows, geology, Earth Day and of course weather!
Learn about how tornadoes are formed with this simple tornado in a bottle activity. My son enjoys checking the weather and temperature every day! We recently checked out the book Otis And The Tornado from the library, and he inquired about a homemade tornado bottle we had previously made. Here is how to make one!
How To Make A Tornado In A Bottle
Supplies:
- Water
- Dish Soap
- Tall Narrow Plastic Bottle (like a VOS water bottle)
Instructions:
STEP 1: Fill a bottle 3/4 of the way with water and add a drop of dish soap. Cover tightly.
STEP 2: Give the bottle a good shake with a roll of the wrist and watch!
TIPS: I grabbed a VOS water bottle, plastic, tall and narrow. I emptied and refilled the bottle with water and added a little squirt of dish soap. We felt it was easier to achieve a tornado every time after the soap/water mixture had sat a while.
How Does A Tornado In A Bottle Work?
The science behind this experiment lies in the principles of fluid dynamics. When you spin the bottle, you create centripetal force, causing the water to move in a circular motion. As the water spins faster, it creates a low-pressure area at the center of the bottle, pulling the surrounding water downward and creating a vortex. This vortex mimics the swirling motion of a tornado, albeit on a much smaller scale.
How Does A Tornado Form?
A tornado is a giant rotating column of air that descends from a thunderstorm to the ground. Most tornados form from thunderstorms where warm, moist air meets cold, dry air. When hot and cool air meets, the atmosphere becomes unstable, and winds increase.
Most tornadoes occur in the United States during spring and summer, but they can happen at any time of the year. Peak tornado season is considered between April and June.
A tornado watch means to be prepared. It doesn’t mean a tornado has been seen or shown on the weather radar. It means there is the potential for it to occur.
On the other hand, a tornado warning means a tornado has been sighted or indicated by radar. The National Weather Service (NWS) will issue a tornado warning so that people know to seek shelter.
Explore Earth Science Topics For Kids
Weather science and meteorology are included under the branch of science known as Earth Science.
Earth Science is the study of the earth and everything that physically makes up it and its atmosphere. From the ground we walk on to the air we breathe, the wind that blows, and the oceans we swim in.
In Earth Science you learn about…
- Geology – the study of rocks and land.
- Oceanography – the study of oceans.
- Meteorology – the study of weather.
- Astronomy – the study of stars, planets, and space.
More Fun Weather Science Activities To Try
Check out our list of weather activities for preschoolers, elementary and older. Including…
- Learn about where rain comes from with rain cloud in a jar.
- Make a cloud viewer to identify the clouds you can see in the sky.
- Set up a water cycle in a bottle or alternatively, a water cycle in a bag.
- Make a DIY anemometer to measure the wind speed.
Bonus Printable Spring Pack
If you’re looking to grab all of the worksheets and printables in one convenient place plus exclusives with a spring theme, our 300+ page Spring STEM Project Pack is what you need! Weather, geology, plants, life cycles, and more!
Love the literature extension! We recently got into Otis books!