This document provides instructions for an activity where students create a cloud inside a glass jar. The activity demonstrates how clouds form through condensation. Students pour hot water into a jar, add ice on the lid to cool the air inside, then spray hairspray to introduce particles for water vapor to condense onto, forming a visible cloud that swirls around the jar. The activity aims to show students how temperature changes and interactions between air and water result in cloud formation.
This document provides instructions for an activity where students create a cloud inside a glass jar. The activity demonstrates how clouds form through condensation. Students pour hot water into a jar, add ice on the lid to cool the air inside, then spray hairspray to introduce particles for water vapor to condense onto, forming a visible cloud that swirls around the jar. The activity aims to show students how temperature changes and interactions between air and water result in cloud formation.
This document provides instructions for an activity where students create a cloud inside a glass jar. The activity demonstrates how clouds form through condensation. Students pour hot water into a jar, add ice on the lid to cool the air inside, then spray hairspray to introduce particles for water vapor to condense onto, forming a visible cloud that swirls around the jar. The activity aims to show students how temperature changes and interactions between air and water result in cloud formation.
This document provides instructions for an activity where students create a cloud inside a glass jar. The activity demonstrates how clouds form through condensation. Students pour hot water into a jar, add ice on the lid to cool the air inside, then spray hairspray to introduce particles for water vapor to condense onto, forming a visible cloud that swirls around the jar. The activity aims to show students how temperature changes and interactions between air and water result in cloud formation.
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Name _________________________ Class _______________ Date_______________
Cloud in a Jar
Central Focus:
In this activity, students will create a cloud inside of a glass jar. The benefit to this activity is that students are able to see the cloud forming and moving in the jar due to the hairspray. This activity could be used as an introduction to how clouds are formed and different weather systems.
What is a cloud made of? A cloud is simply a visible condensation of water that is suspended in the air. Clouds form as warm air rises in the atmosphere and then cools down. The sun heats water, which causes it to evaporate into the air. Warmer air rises and cooler air sinks. As the warmer air containing water vapor rises, it is cooled. As the water vapor cools, it condenses into water droplets onto particles, such as dust, in the air. As more and more air cools, more droplets are formed and create a visible cloud. When a large number of water droplets stick together, gravity pulls them back to earth, creating rain. Materials: Glass Jar with Lid 1/3 Cup of Hot Water Hairspray 1/3-1/2 Cup of Ice
Instructions: 1. Pour the hot water into the jar. 2. Swirl the jar around. 3. Place the lid upside down on top of the jar. 4. Place the ice cubes onto the top of the lid. 5. Wait 20-30 seconds. 6. Remove the lid and quickly spray hairspray in the jar. 7. Put the lid back on the top of the jar, keeping the ice on the top just like before. 8. Watch as a cloud forms inside the jar!
Analysis questions:
1. What temperature change occurred when the ice was placed on top of the hot water onto the lid of the jar? ______________________________________________________________________________
2. What phase change occurred right after the hair spray was quickly sprayed into the jar and the top was placed back on? How do you know? ______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________ 3. What is the cause of the swirling of the cloud? ______________________________________________________________________________
4. Would the cloud still form if the hairspray was not present? Why or why not? ______________________________________________________________________________
