VP Popup 08/31/20 DIY Science: Water Cycle in a Jar

DIY Science:
Water Cycle in a Jar

Watch the water cycle in action with this simple experiment.

Monday, August 31

Today you will get to control the weather in a jar! All you need is a glass jar, a plate, and water. Watch this video for an introduction to the experiment: https://youtu.be/WxbvMI0VBr0


The Science Fun for Everyone! website and Fun Science Demos YouTube video (above) were used as the sources for this activity: https://www.sciencefun.org/kidszone/experiments/make-it-rain/

This activity is for all ages.


Please make sure you have parent/guardian permission and adult supervision before you begin this activity.

Supplies:

  • A glass jar
  • A glass or ceramic plate
  • Hot water (and an adult to help heat the water)
  • Ice cubes
  • Food coloring (optional)

The Challenge:

Follow these steps to make it rain in a jar!


  1. With an adult's help, heat water until it is steaming hot. You can warm the water on the stove top or in the microwave.
  2. Carefully fill about 1/3 of  the glass jar with the hot water. If you want, you can add food coloring at this point.
  3. Cover the top of the glass jar with the plate (face up) and let it sit for about 3 minutes.
  4. Add ice cubes to the plate.
  5. Watch the jar and observe your homemade water cycle in action!

Time to Reflect:

What's going on?


The water cycle is constantly happening in our environment. This experiment demonstrates the water cycle on a small scale.


The sun heats water on the earth's surface, which turns liquid water into a gas state (steam or water vapor). As the water vapor rises, it mixes with cold air, which causes the water vapor to condense and form water droplets. These water droplets then fall back down to the earth's surface as precipitation (rain, snow, sleet, etc.), and then the cycle starts repeats.

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