Make Your Own Tornado

Make Your Own Tornado Tornadoes are basically violent rotating columns of air that extend from a thunderstorm to the ground level. These are powerful demonstrations of natural forces with vortex as its centre. This article will vividly illustrate how to create a tornado like effect in a bottle. If you are looking forward to a science fair, then this particular experimental project can be an interesting option for you. However, adult’s supervision is required for this project.

Instructions

First, take two empty 2-liter plastic bottles and remove the labels from them. Now take off the caps from the bottles and wash the bottles properly. Make a ½ inch hole at the centre of each bottle cap by drilling them. An adult help should be taken for drilling.
Now place both the caps on their flat ends and seal their holes by applying a thin bead of silicon caulk. Allow this sealing to dry and then wrap duct tape around the outer side of the caps to tightly club them together.
Carefully screw the caps back to one of the bottles and fill the other bottle with 3/4 water. Now add glitter and dishwashing soap or food coloring and confetti to the water. The presence of these materials will help you notice vortex more clearly.
Now twist the empty bottle to the top of the other bottle that is filled with water. While holding the bottles by duct tape with one hand, try to support the bottom of the bottle with your other hand.
Turn the bottles upside-down and spin them in a circular motion. As the water will drain into the bottom of the bottle, you will notice tornado effect with vortex formation.
You may experiment with more or less water as well as with different liquids or materials that is added to water. You can also try spinning the bottle slower or faster and notice the effects.

Tips to Remember

In order to remove the stubborn bottle labels, fill the bottle with warm water and soak it in warm, soapy water for some time. There are good chances that it will loosen the adhesive and labels will come out easily.
If you want you can get a kit with the caps already attached to one another. It is often available at hobby shops and teacher supply stores.
Make sure you do not add too much food coloring because it will be difficult to view the tornado inside.
Presence of adult is must, especially while using handle power tools.
With stronger swirling of the bottle, there will be stronger vortex formation.

Watch video instructions on how to make your own tornado