Condensation Station

Clouds form when water vapour in the air cools down and condenses (turns back into liquid water). The water in the sky forms clouds. Water droplets form more easily if they have something to stick to, like dust or smoke.

Task

Clouds can be pretty irritating when they get in the way of plans, but they bring the rain that plants and animals need. Clouds also control temperatures – they reflect some of the sun’s heat on hot days, but can also act like a jacket, keeping the heat in and insulating the earth on colder days.

Take part in the experiment below and explain how climate change affects clouds and how might clouds affect planes and pilots?

Resources

• Clean, empty plastic bottle (two litres)
• Matches
• Access to water

Instructions

1. Familiarise yourself with the different types of clouds. The Met Office has some really useful information about clouds here.
2. Get a bottle, some matches and some warm water.
3. Remove any labels on the bottle and add water. Put the lid back on tightly, then shake the bottle so the inside’s coated with water.
4. Carefully light a match. You should let it burn most of the way and quickly drop it into the bottle.
5. Squeeze the bottle as hard as you can. You could try putting the bottle on the floor and standing on it to squeeze it harder, but no one should jump on it – it might make the bottle burst.
6. Let go of the bottle and watch a cloud form.
7. Open the bottle and gently squeeze the cloud out onto the sky-scape.
8. Watch the cloud float away.