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Tornado in a Jar

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What is a vortex?

A vortex is a physics phenomenon that occurs when gas or liquid moves in circles. Vortex is a mass of spinning air or liquid and it tends to pull things into the center of the circle. When you spin the jar around, it creates a vortex. You also can see the vortex when water in a bathtub is drained through a sink hole. Here is a science activity to help you understand what a vortex is. This science activity is very simple, easy and beautiful.

 Materials

  • dish soap

  • mason jar

  • water

  • plastic beads (optional)

  • food coloring (optional)

  • glitter (optional)

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 Procedures

  1. Fill the jar with water.

  2. Spin it around and watch!

  3. Put a little bit of dish soap then you can see the tornado a lot easier.

  4. Spin it around again. Do you see the tornado better this way?

  5. If you have food coloring and some glitter, you can add them to see the tornado better.

  6. This circular motion is a vortex. To understand how a vortex works, use some plastic beads.

  7. Pour water, add plastic beads, close the jar and spin it around. Can you see this bead is getting socked up?

Science Behind It

This circular motion is called a vortex. Hurricanes, tornadoes, water flowing down the drain and air moving over a plane wing are the examples of vortices. There is a vortex line at the center. A vortex is formed when there is a difference in the velocity of what surrounds the line. It tends to pull things into the center of the circle. Water flowing down the drain or maelstrom in seas has a downdraft. Hurricanes or tornadoes have updrafts.

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