4B70.23 - Cloud Formation by Cooling

Code Number:
4B70.23
Demo Title:
Cloud Formation by Cooling
Condition:
Excellent
Principle:
Temperature rise with increasing pressure
Area of Study:
Heat and Fluids & Planetary Astronomy
Equipment:
Plexiglas box, 200 mL of hot water, wooden matches, 2 gal Ziploc bag, and 2 Liters of ice.
Procedure:

See also 4B70.23 in Heat and Fluids.

Pour 200 ml of hot water into the bottom of the Plexiglas container.  Place the 2 Liters of ice into the Ziploc bag and press out any air.  Light 2 wooden matches and throw them into the box with the water and immediately cover with the bag of ice.  As the cloud starts to form you should see a convection current that moves from the hot water to the ice bag and back down.

References:
  • "Teaching Physics", TPT, Vol. 33, # 3, March 1995, p. 191.
  • R. D. Russell,  "Demonstrating Adiabatic Temperature Changes",  TPT, Vol. 25, # 7, p.  450, Oct. 1987.
  • N. David et al., "Monitoring Fog With Cellular Network Infrastructure", Physics Today, March 2015, p. 17.
  • H- 230:  "Saucer Rain - Produce LNG",  DICK and RAE Physics Demo Notebook.
  • H- 360:  "Cloud in Jug - Pump Up Tire",  DICK and RAE Physics Demo Notebook.
  • Charles Vivian, "Make Your Own Rain", Science Experiments & Amusements For Children, p. 67.
  • "Atmospheric Science", Spring 2004, Science Supplement, or The 2004 World Book Science Year, Grolier Inc., ISBN: 0-7172-1580-6.
  • 74, "Drops", Janice VanCleave's Earth Science for Every Kid, p. 164.
  • Joey Green, "Bottled Cloud", The Mad Scientist Handbook, Vol. 2, p. 11.

Disclaimer: These demonstrations are provided only for illustrative use by persons affiliated with The University of Iowa and only under the direction of a trained instructor or physicist.  The University of Iowa is not responsible for demonstrations performed by those using their own equipment or who choose to use this reference material for their own purpose.  The demonstrations included here are within the public domain and can be found in materials contained in libraries, bookstores, and through electronic sources.  Performing all or any portion of any of these demonstrations, with or without revisions not depicted here entails inherent risks.  These risks include, without limitation, bodily injury (and possibly death), including risks to health that may be temporary or permanent and that may exacerbate a pre-existing medical condition; and property loss or damage.  Anyone performing any part of these demonstrations, even with revisions, knowingly and voluntarily assumes all risks associated with them.