Tornado in a Bottle Instructions

You can create a vortex with water similar to a tornado.

A vortex is the term used to describe the spinning funnel of wind that creates the meteorological phenomenon known as a tornado. You can recreate a similar effect using two large soda bottles, one filled with water and one that is empty. When connected at their mouths, water pours from one bottle to the other in a slow gurgle. Spin the water in the bottle, however, and a vortex forms that you can easy see.

Things You'll Need

• 2 empty 2-liter soda bottles
• Super glue
• Fast drying silicone glue
• Duct tape

Instructions

1. Remove the labels from both soda bottles. Fill one of the soda bottles almost full with water.

2. Place a bead of super glue around the lip of the mouth of the filled bottle. Attach the washer to the mouth of the bottle so the hole in the washer centers over the mouth of the bottle.

3. Invert the empty bottle and place its mouth onto the other side of the washer to connect the two bottles. Place a bead of super glue around the mouth of the empty bottle Allow the glue to dry completely.

4. Place a bead of silicone glue around the connection between the two bottle mouths and the washer. Allow that glue to set.

5. Tape the mouths of the bottle with several turns of a strip of duct tape to reinforce and stabilize the connection between the bottles.

6. Grip both bottles firmly. Turn the bottles over and immediately spin the water in the top bottle until you create a vortex.

7. Place the bottle on a solid and stable surface to watch the tornado shape develop as the water swirls and drains from the top bottle to the bottom bottle.

Tips & Warnings

• Use super glue with care as it will bond to skin.

References

• National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration: Tornado in a Bottle
• University of Oklahoma: Fluid Mechanics
• Steve Spangler Science: Tornado in a Bottle

Resources

• Tornado Tube: Products