Hooked On Science: You can make a cloud using water, science 8/25/11

You can make your own cloud with just a few items from around the house.

Materials

* Two-liter bottle

* Water

* Matches

Instructions

STEP 1: Add a small amount of warm water to the bottle.

STEP 2: With an adult present, light a match and then quickly place the match into the bottle. Screw the cap onto the bottle.

STEP 3: Using your hands, squeeze the sides of the bottle about six times.

STEP 4: Squeeze the bottle one more time, but this time don't let go for a few seconds. Look closely at the bottle and then let go.

Explanation

An atmosphere perfect for cloud development was created. The water vapor inside the bottle attached to the smoke particles produced by the match. When the bottle was squeezed, you increased the air pressure. When you let go, you decreased the air pressure, which cooled the air and created the cloud in your bottle.

Jason Lindsey is a science outreach educator with Hooked on Science. Check out his website www.hookedonscience.org for webcasts and experiments that might get you hooked on science. Send him your science questions at jlindseyhookedonscience.com. More science experiments can be found at www.semissourian.com.