See weather in action with DIY tornado

Spring and summer are full of many sounds coming from outside, but there’s one we can always expect to hear on schedule: a tornado siren. Although they sound a little scary, the thought of a tornado approaching with no warning is even scarier.

You can safely see the science of a tornado by making your own. (Photo by Anthony Schalk)

What exactly is a tornado, anyway?

A tornado is violently fast, rotating wind. The funnel shape forms when warm, moist air and cool, dry air meet. If strong enough, this meeting can cause a change in wind direction and an increase in wind speed. The air begins to swirl into a funnel shape. If the funnel stretches from a thunderstorm to the ground, it is a tornado. Some people also call them twisters or cyclones.

Let’s demonstrate how fast motion can create that funnel shape by creating a tornado in a bottle!

Materials

• 2 bottles (I like to use 2-liter bottles like the ones soda comes in.)

• Tape (Duct tape works best.)

• A washer (Or another household item of a similar shape. Get creative and try different options!)

• Water (Enough to fill about three-quarters of one of the bottles.)

• Food coloring (optional)

• Glitter (optional)

Instructions

1. Start by filling one of the bottles with the water. This is also when you get add food coloring or glitter or any other additions! The experiment also works perfectly without any additions. In real life, tornados can appear as different colors, such as white, gray, black or sometimes red or green. It all depends what the surrounding environment looks like.

2. Next, put your washer on the mouth of the bottle.

3. Place the second (empty) bottle on top so both bottle openings are touching the washer.

4. Use the duct tape to hold everything nice and tight!

5. Once you can shake the bottles without getting water on your hand, you’re ready to go. Turn over the bottle so the filled one is at the top.

6. HURRY! Move the bottle in a circular pattern to achieve the funnel shape. Turn the bottles over and try it again! Rotate the bottles slowly. Turn it over and rotate the bottles quickly. How did affect your tornado?

Want to try this a different way? With your adult’s permission, you can also buy holders for bottles. These holders work the same way the tape and washers do.