Hooked on Science: Make a fire tornado

Wildfires continue to burn throughout Colorado. Sometimes fire devils or fire tornadoes will form during a wildfire. Adult supervision is recommended.

Materials

* Fireproof bowl

* Lazy Susan turntable

* Lighter fluid

* Wire screen

* Staples

* Sponge

* Grill lighter

* Fire extinguisher

Instructions

STEP 1: Roll the wire screen into a cylinder and secure the wire screen with the staples.

STEP 2: Cut the sponge into four pieces. Place two of the sponge pieces into the bowl.

STEP 3: Soak the sponge pieces in lighter fluid.

STEP 4: Place the bowl in the center of the Lazy Susan and ignite the sponge pieces.

STEP 5: Place the wire screen on the Lazy Susan and spin.

Explanation

The fire heats the air, which expands, becomes less dense and then floats upward. Cold air replaces the warm air. The wire screen forces the air replacing the rising warm air up to rotate. As the air moves closer to the center it spins faster, causing the flame to spin in a unique way.

Jason Lindsey is a science outreach educator with Hooked on Science. Check out his website www.hookedonscience.org for webcasts and experiments.