Environmental conditions, temperature, density, and pressure,
are continually changing.
STUDENT OBJECTIVE:
The student will observe a "mini" tornado in a bottle
and observe a low pressure system, a major component of a tornado.
OVERVIEW:
The student will construct his/her own model of a tornado and
observe, through vigorous shaking of the bottle, a simulated
tornado. The student will observe the direction of the water
(tornado) and observe the "pulling down" of the
water(tornado)
into the other bottle.
2. Add 2-3 drops of food coloring(student choice).
3. Cut a strip of duct tape about 1 in. x 2 in. (2.5 cm x5 cm).
4. Cover the mouth of the bottle containing the colored water
with the strip of tape.
5. Use the pencil to punch a hole in the center of the tape -
make the hole slightly larger than the tape.
6. Use your fingers to smooth and secure the edges of the tape
around the hole in the tape.
7. Turn the second bottle so that the mouth of each bottle lines
up.
8. Use paper towels to dry any moisture from the necks of the
bottles.
9. Wrap strips of duct tape around the necks of the bottles to
secure them tightly.
10. Flip the bottles so that the bottle with the water is on top.
11. Grasp the bottles around the necks and quickly swirl them in
circles parallel to the floor.
12. Set the bottles on a table, with the empty one on the bottom.
WHY?
The water swirls in a funnel shape as it pours from the top bottle.
The falling water looks like a tornado. as in a real tornado,
warm air rises very rapidly upward causing wind to rotate violently.
Because the temperature is low and the surrounding air pressure
is also low, water vapor condenses and rains occur.
ASSESSMENT: Can the student communicate what they observed?
4......Student is able to communicate that warm and cool fronts
mix creating rapidly upward moving air which causes winds to rotate
violently. Low pressure is created to cause heavy rains in the
tornado.
3......Student is able to communicate that rapidly moving air
upward creates violent, rotating winds and heavy rains.
2......Student is able to communicate tornadoes create violent
winds, and the wind is moving very rapidly.
1......Student is able to communicate that tornadoes cause a lot
of damage.
