#Scienceforkids- “Tornado in a Jar”- A fun weather science experiment for kids!

This week we are excited to share again a “Weather science experiment”, named “Tornado in a Jar”. Hoping you all would like it.
Personally, we like “Weather science experiments” so much. These experiments are not only fun to do but they also provides an excellent opportunity to learn about different environmental phenomenon as well.
“Tornados” are one of the most exciting natural phenomenon and kids usually have a natural curiosity about how it forms? With this experiment we can explain them the exact science behind it. And I am sure they will have loads of fun too, while doing this.
Overview
As the name suggested “Tornado in a bottle” is an exciting science experiment where we create vortex inside a bottle by using simple and available at home supplies. Spinning of the jar or bottle is one of the most important step that helps in creating vortex inside the bottle that looks like real tornado.
What will you need?

You will need:
- Any kind of jar or bottle ( pickle jar, mason jar or routine plastic bottle) anything work great.
- dish washing liquid (1 TSP)
- Water
- Vinegar ( 1 TSP)
- Food dye or color ( optional)
- Glitter, beads ( optional, you may add this for extra fun)
- Spoon or knife for mixing.
Method




- First talk about tornado formation to your kids. Ask them few questions about it, to raise the curiosity about the experiment.
- Now, gather all the supplies for easy conduction of experiment.
- Then, take bottle or jar and fill this with water, leave upper most part empty to see the Tornado formation clearly.
- Now, add 1 TSP dishwashing liquid in it.
- You may add food dye, glitter or beads at this stage for adding extra fun to this experiment.
- Next step, is most important step of this experiment and you may need to do a little practice of it before conducting proper experiment and that is “Spinning of bottle”. Proper spin is very important to create vortex inside the bottle that looks like a tornado.
- Now, start spinning bottle or jar for few minute and wait for a moment.
- After stopping the spin moment, look carefully inside the jar or bottle.
- You will see that even after stopping the spinning, the water inside the jar is still rotating and creating a vortex inside it that looks like a “Tornado”
- In environment, air is the medium in which Tornado is form, while in this, we had used water as a medium to create the same swirly moment to form Tornado.
- Sometimes, mixing of dishwashing liquid may cause too much bubbles inside the bottle and you may find it hard to see vortex formation. to solve this problem, you can add 1 tsp of vinegar to water and mixed it with spoon. This step helps in clear visibility of vortex formation inside the bottle.
- we had done this experiment with a wide jar too, and without the dish washing liquid and got better result, would suggest to do this a wide mouth jar for better result.

Science behind this experiment
Now, it’s time to understand the cactus science behind this experiment.
“Vortex formation” is real reason behind this phenomenon. The swirly winds of tornado is called “Vortex”.
Vortex is a type of motion that causes both liquid and gas to travel spirally, around in centerline.
In this experiment, swirly the water inside the bottle causes vortex formation that looks like a tornado. The water is continues spinning around the center of vortex because of centripetal force.
So, with this little effort we can teach our kids the complex phenomenon of “Vortex formation” easily and in fun manner.
Additionally, you can learn and read more about the “Real Tornado”, after doing this experiment.
My girls had loads of fun and lots of learning while doing this.
Sorry this week no video due to over busy schedule. will do it next week for sure, so stay tuned!
If you had missed previous posts of this series, click here for
Potato and straw science experiment
Did you like this experiment? please share your thoughts in comment box.






























I am amazed at your creativity Surbhi! You always come up with such amazing and unique experiments for kids.
Thanks Noor, I am so glad you like my ideas.
Kids see tornado in movies it will be great if they can create their own tornado and look at its working closely. Great idea.
This is so creative definitely I will trying out with my little one just amazing
Wow easy to follow science experiment at home. I am amazed how easily you explain these experiments.
Yeah! I also her creative experiments with her daughters. Tornado in a water jar with scientific explanations is a great idea to execute. Thanks for sharing.
This is so creative and fun activity. I am definitely going to try this with my kidd. This is the great way for letting with fun. You have explained it so well. Thanks dear.
I am loving this series of yours, Surbhi. You have come up with unique and fun way to teach Science to kids.
Thanks dear, I am glad you .like it
Omg its amazing to see such mind blowing experiments you conduct. I will definitely try all these when my daughter grows up a bit.
Another wonderful post on another exciting science phenomenon. Reading your post was reminiscent of the movie “Twister” that i watched years ago and i felt as excited reading your post as i was when i watched that movie years ago. Tornado definitely is an interesting phenomenon and you explained it so well through the experiment.
Thanks, I am glad you like the post.
One more interesting experiment.Wonder how many u have under ur sleeve Surabhi 🙂
Thanks dear, my girls inspired me to be creative everyday.
Wow! This looks fun. Such a good and easy way to teach kids about these science concepts.
I love how you are bringing science to life for kids. Doing these experiments with young children should give them a natural curiosity about the world around us and on to science! Keep on writing!
Thanks dear, I am glad you liked it
Wow! How creative and seems to be a lot of fun!!
Thanks Aarushi
This is another wonderful experiment Surbhi.. love your creative ideas !
Thanks dear
Wow that looks very exciting. Will ask my hubby to try this with the kids. But after a year otherwise everything will be exploding at home with my toddlers memory power. ?
seriously I wish I was there with you while doing such experiments. Curiously waiting to read your next post.
Thanks a lot dear, I am so glad you like my series.
Really good experiment. Looks like magic and kids will ne enjoying plus learning the reason behind the tornado in the jar.
I am excited myself to see this experiment. How excited my kids would be. They love to do science activity. I am introducing them to these.
Once Penguin grows up we are going to try the #ScienceForKids experiments all hands on learning experiences.
That’s such a cool experiment. My daughters will love this way of learning about Tornadoes. I will try it out this weekend.
Now that’s a really cool and creative experiment! Will surely try with Kids and recommend others.Thanks fr this.
(Snehalata Jain)
This is a really good experiment to do with kids. I can totally get it how excited my 4 year old will get with this. I’ll try it out.
This is such a fun way to learn about tornado Surbhi. I’m definitely going to try this with my daughter and the way you have explained it is so well that I’m sure there will be no.more doubts.
Another fantastic experiment by my two precious angels and yes we are gonna try this at home too
This is an exciting and fantastic experiment for kids…will try with Ira and Viraj!!
I’m going to share this experiment with my kids. Your creativity is amazing. I’m sure we’ll enjoy doing it too.
Wow! This is looks fun. Such a good and easy way to teach kids about these science concepts.
This looks like so much fun, I am sure my little one would totally love this. I have saved it and would try this experiment with my kid. Thank you for sharing this.
Doing activity with kids to explain them science behind them is best way to learn in fun way. We also have done this Tornado activity.
This is such a great idea! I love doing fun science experiments with my neices….going to try this out
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My daughter is 3 years old.This is so creative definitely I will trying out with my little one too.
As much as it is fun for kids, I am sure for adults this will be fun too 🙂 Teaching our kids with such fun experiments is a wonderful way of learning. I am surely going to try this with my little one.
This is so amazing experiment by your girls Surbhi. I am definitely going to try this with my son who is fond of different Science experiments.
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