Hurricane in a Bottle
Hurricanes form out in the ocean when powerful storms meet up
together and start swirling around generating vortexes. Vortexes are
also formed in Tornado's, Whirlpools, and Dust Devils. In the
experiment below you can make a Hurricane / Tornado in a bottle!
Materials
- 2 plastic Bottles (empty 1 liter water bottles work well)
- Water
- Colored Lamp Oil (Optional)
- Food Coloring (Optional)
- Small Styrofoam Balls (Optional)
- Small Washer 1/4"
- Duct tape
Watch Video
Process
1) Fill one of the empty bottles to the top with water.
2) Add a couple drops of food coloring if you want.
3) If you have small styrofoam balls put them in to simulate flying debris.
4) Put the 1/4 inch washer on top of the filled bottle.
5) Now invert the other bottle on top of it so they are connected. Use duct
tape to make a nice water tight secure connection between the bottles.
One bottle should be empty and one should be full.
6) Take a little extra time to ensure the bottles are snug / flush against
the washer before duct taping together. You want everything perfectly flat
when you tape.
7) Turn the bottle with the water upside down so the water is on top.
How long does it take for the water to drain into the bottom bottle without
squeezing it (a long time).
8) Now try this! Make a Vortex and watch how fast the water moves from
the top bottle to the bottom bottle. To make a Vortex put the bottle with
the water on top. Hold the bottles with your hand in the middle where the
two connect. Then twirl the bottle around in a circular motion for a few
seconds and hold still. Wham!
The Science:
Twirling and swirling the bottle creates a vortex as the water moves
down through the hole in the washer. What you see is basically a
Hurricane in a plastic bottle. When the vortex is generated, air from the
bottom bottle can more easily move to the top bottle and the water
comes out quicker. Try looking in the center of the bottle as you do the
experiment and you will see the hole in the middle also known as "the
eye of the hurricane". It takes more time for the water to move down
when you let the bottle sit without making a vortex because the water
and air must take turns moving through the hole in a burping effect.
together and start swirling around generating vortexes. Vortexes are
also formed in Tornado's, Whirlpools, and Dust Devils. In the
experiment below you can make a Hurricane / Tornado in a bottle!
Materials
- 2 plastic Bottles (empty 1 liter water bottles work well)
- Water
- Colored Lamp Oil (Optional)
- Food Coloring (Optional)
- Small Styrofoam Balls (Optional)
- Small Washer 1/4"
- Duct tape
Watch Video
Process
1) Fill one of the empty bottles to the top with water.
2) Add a couple drops of food coloring if you want.
3) If you have small styrofoam balls put them in to simulate flying debris.
4) Put the 1/4 inch washer on top of the filled bottle.
5) Now invert the other bottle on top of it so they are connected. Use duct
tape to make a nice water tight secure connection between the bottles.
One bottle should be empty and one should be full.
6) Take a little extra time to ensure the bottles are snug / flush against
the washer before duct taping together. You want everything perfectly flat
when you tape.
7) Turn the bottle with the water upside down so the water is on top.
How long does it take for the water to drain into the bottom bottle without
squeezing it (a long time).
8) Now try this! Make a Vortex and watch how fast the water moves from
the top bottle to the bottom bottle. To make a Vortex put the bottle with
the water on top. Hold the bottles with your hand in the middle where the
two connect. Then twirl the bottle around in a circular motion for a few
seconds and hold still. Wham!
The Science:
Twirling and swirling the bottle creates a vortex as the water moves
down through the hole in the washer. What you see is basically a
Hurricane in a plastic bottle. When the vortex is generated, air from the
bottom bottle can more easily move to the top bottle and the water
comes out quicker. Try looking in the center of the bottle as you do the
experiment and you will see the hole in the middle also known as "the
eye of the hurricane". It takes more time for the water to move down
when you let the bottle sit without making a vortex because the water
and air must take turns moving through the hole in a burping effect.
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