Clouds are large accumulations of small water droplets or ice crystals that form in the sky. Clouds form through the process of evaporation and condensation as warm air rises and cools. They appear white when they reflect sunlight but turn gray when the cloud is thick and all light cannot pass through. Clouds move across the sky with wind. A small cloud can be created in a jar by adding water, food coloring, and creating temperature changes that allow water vapor to condense into droplets, simulating the natural cloud formation process.

1. CLOUDS

2. Are you puzzled by what a cloud really is?

3. What are clouds?They are a large accumulation of very small drops of water. The drops of water are so small that they are able to float in the air.

4. How do clouds form?3. When billions of droplets come together they form a cloud2. Warm air rises; it increases and cools1. The sun warms the surface of the earth and evaporates the water

5. Why are clouds white?Because they reflect the light of the sun.

6. Why do some clouds turn gray?If the cloud is up high enough or very thick all of the light reflected from the sun can not get through. So they will have a gray or darker appearance to them.

7. How do clouds move?They move with the wind

8. Let’s create a cloud right here and now!!!Here is what you need…Gallon jarFood coloringLamp Rubber gloveMatchesRubber band

9. Pour 100 ml of cold water into the jar. Add food coloring to the water.2. Swirl the water in the jar for one minute to allow some water to evaporate.

10. Stretch the open end of a rubber glove over the mouth of the jar, with the glove fingers hanging down into the jar.4. Place a rubber band around the mouth of the jar to secure the glove.

11. Turn on the lamp so it shines through the jar.6. Insert your hand into the glove. Pull quickly outward without disturbing the jar's seal. Record your observations.

12. Quickly push your hand back down into the jar. Record your observations.8. Carefully remove the glove from the jar.

13. Drop a lit match into the jar and quickly seal it again with the rubber glove as before.10. Insert your hand into the glove. Pull quickly outward without disturbing the jar's seal. Record your observations..

14. What is going on in the jar?A “cloud” has formed in the jar

15. Water vapor is created as water heats under the lamp. When you pull the glove out of the jar, the air pressure is lowered inside the jar. The molecules become less dense. The molecules come in contact with one another less often causing the temperature to go down.The air pressure is increased when you press the glove into the jar. The air becomes more dense as the molecules are crowded together. The water vapor molecules get smaller when the air temperature cools again making a little cloud.

16. By having the moisture (water), the cooling air (when the glove is pulled out), and pollutants (the food coloring) you are able to create a cloud

17. Clouds are something we take for granted….We see them everywhere…They aren’t just pieces of flying cotton candy…They are much more than floating shapes to stare at on a summers night…

18. Clouds are a way that Earth recycles!

19. The clouds evaporate the water from the ocean and rain the water out, giving us water on land.

20. Now hopefully clouds mean so much more to you than ever before!!!!Experiment from: http://eo.ucar.edu/webweather/cloudact2.html