Science Smarts: How are clouds formed?
By PATTY ROOKS on May 29, 2021.
I know many people would say I am a bit strange in that I really enjoyed the past weekend. Of course, the snow was a bit off for this time of year, but the rain was welcomed by my garden! What was most fascinating to me was the array of clouds that formed in the sky over and over again. If you have a chance, look up, it truly can be amazing what the clouds look like and even more amazing how different clouds can help us predict different weather that may be approaching. I think we should start simple though … how are clouds formed? Let’s get started! Remember to ask an adult before doing this experiment Materials • Ice • Metal pie tin • Matches • Adult helper • Hot tap water • Empty clear jar Procedure • Find a safe place to work and an adult MUST help you with this activity. • Place enough ice cubes in the metal pie tin to cover the bottom. Set aside for now. • Fill the empty jar about ¼ full of hot tap water. • Have the adult light the match, blow it out and quickly throw it into the jar. • Immediately place the metal pie tin with ice over the mouth of the jar. • Observe. What is going on? If you used your observations skills well, you should have seen a cloud form near the top of the jar. This is because the warm water vapour (from the warm tap water) mixed with the smoke particles (from the blown out match). As this water vapour began to rise in the jar it came into contact with the VERY cold air from pie tin resting on top of the jar. This allowed the water vapour to cool off. Once condensation occurs, a cloud is formed! This entire process of evaporation, condensation and precipitation are all critical components of the water cycle. Patty Rooks, Senior Scientific Consultant PRAXIS, “Connecting Science To The Community”. Contact Praxis at praxis@praxismh.ca, http://www.praxismh.ca, Tweet or follow us @PraxisMedHat, or friend us on Facebook. You can find us at: #12 826 11 Street S. E., Medicine Hat, Alberta, T1A 1T7 Phone: 403-527-5365, email: praxis@praxismh.ca. 22-21
