Tornado In A Bottle- Lab Experiment

        First of all, a tornado is a natural storm disaster created when a front of hot, humid air and a front of cool, dry air collide in the atmosphere. The warm air is pushed upward, which causes winds carrying water droplets to rotate into a vortex, speeding at up to 300 miles per hour in the center. This spinning column of air and water droplets then begins to stretch between the earth and a convection cloud (made up of water droplets) to create a tornado. The water droplets form from the condensation of water vapor in the area within the funnel where there is low temperature and pressure. This makes the funnel visible to our eyes, because the large number of water droplets block out the sun's light, just like a thunder cloud.

       In this lab, you will be able to see what a tornado looks like on a very small scale. This experiment shows water moving through a small hole in a manner that simulates the spiraling behavior of the tail of the tornado. The condensation funnel, or tail, causes great destruction for anything in its path, as it touches the earth and sweeps objects and debris up into its vortex (the spinning center). You will be able to analyze this phenomenon and describe some of its characteristics using this model.

         Materials:

• 2 cleaned-out 2-Liter plastic bottles (other types of bottles will also work, especially for testing to create the most effective set-up).
• 1 roll of duct tape
• water
• scissors
• paper towels
  Procedure:
• Remove labels from the plastic bottles.
• Cut a piece of duct tape.
• Fill one bottle three-quarters (3/4) of the way with water.
•  Take the tape and wrap it around the mouth of the bottle.
•  Place the two mouths of the bottles together (the empty one upside-down on top of the water-filled one), and tape them carefully together with the duct tape. Test for leakage by carefully rotating the bottles. Use more tape as needed.
•  To create the tornado affect, turn the bottles upside-down so that the water should be flowing through the two bottles. Swirl slowly to help create the funnel.
•  Repeat this procedure using different materials and techniques, such as different bottles, liquids, and swirling techniques, and compare the different effects between the set-ups. Look at the size of the hole in the bottle, and the difference in the vortex.

Sources: Photos

http://www.disastersafety.org/blog/post?blogPostId=7270

http://www.flickriver.com/photos/bob007/3256505612/