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Science Experiments

Tornado in a Bottle

Can you make a glittler tornado with only one bottle? With a little muscle and centripetal force you can!

Make your own bottled cyclone with this fun and easy science experiment. Watch our demonstration video, gather your materials, and print out our instruction sheet to get started. Then, explore how and why the vortex is made with our easy to understand explanation of how the experiment works below.

Tornado in a Bottle Experiment

 

Tornado Science Experiment Video


Tornado in a Bottle Science Experiment Video

Supplies Needed

  • Empty Glass Bottle with Lid
  • 3-4 tablespoons Glitter (the more glitter the better!)
  • Funnel
  • Water

Experiment Instructions

Tornado in a Bottle - Step 1

Step 1 – Use the funnel to put 3-4 tablespoons of glitter in an empty glass jar.

Helpful Tip: The more glitter you use, the better you will be able to see the tornado. And after all, you can never have too much glitter, right?

Tornado in a Bottle - Step 2

Step 2 – Next, fill the jar about 3/4 full of water.

Tornado in a Bottle - Step 3

Step 3 – Put the lid back on the jar and make sure it is really tight.

Tornado in a Bottle - Step 4

Step 4 – Turn the bottle upside down and quickly move the bottle in a circular motion for 10-15 seconds.

Tornado in a Bottle - Step 5

Step 5 – Finally, set the bottle down on the table and observe the tornado that has formed.

Tip: It will take some practice to get the tornado to show up as much as the one in the picture above. But even with a little shaking, a child should be able to get the water and glitter to spin around in the bottle.

How Does the Experiment Work?

When you spin the bottle in a circular motion it creates a water vortex that looks like a tornado. The water spins around the center of the vortex because of centripetal force. Centripetal force is any force that causes an object (in this case water) to move in a circular path.

Because there is glitter in the water you can see the spinning water more clearly. The glitter is similar to the dust and debris that are found spinning in an actual tornado.

I hope you enjoyed the experiment. Here are some printable instructions:

Tornado in a Bottle - Step 2

Tornado in a Bottle Science Experiment

Materials

  • Empty Glass Bottle with Lid
  • 3-4 tablespoons Glitter
  • Funnel
  • Water

Instructions

  1. Use the funnel to put 3-4 tablespoons of glitter in an empty glass jar.
  2. Next, fill the jar about 3/4 full of water.
  3. Put the lid back on the jar and make sure it is really tight.
  4. Turn the bottle upside down and quickly move the bottle in a circular motion for 10-15 seconds.
  5. Finally, set the bottle down on the table and observe the tornado that has formed.
© Cool Science Experiments HQ
Tornado in a Bottle - Steps


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Safety is a priority with every science experiment. Before conducting any of the experiments found on CoolScienceExperimentsHQ.com you must get an adult's permission and help, follow the instructions provided as written and wear the appropriate safety gear (protective eyewear, clothing, etc). Have fun and stay safe!
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