Make It Rain

Convection Currents

Question How does rain form in the sky? How can we simulate this phenomenon?

Background/Research What are the steps of the water cycle? Do convection currents play a role in the water cycle? What conditions are required to create moisture in the air?

Explore Ideas Pd. 1: 1. Heat water in a beaker and cool it down. Brainstorm some ways that we could simulate rain in the classroom. Pd. 1: 1. Heat water in a beaker and cool it down. 2. Simulate shower—hot water condenses, cools down, and falls from ceiling. 3. Put water in a closed container and watch it evaporate. Pd. 2: 1. Use cotton balls as clouds, spray with water. 2. Put water in Tupperware, cover with plastic wrap. Heat in Sun. 3. Put ice in tube and let condensation form around it until it drops like rain. 4. Boil water in cup, put sponge over to collect water until it rains. Pd. 4 1. Get 2 clear bowls. Put water in the bottom one, tape crumbled napkins in the top one and set it over the bottom. Use plastic wrap to seal, and set out in heat. 2. Get a bowl with water and put plastic wrap over it. Observe if water evaporates. 3. Fill a jar with water, dip cotton balls in water, hold over jar, heat water in jar with a heat lamp, and observe results. Pd. 5:1. Put water in a sponge and squeeze it to see it rain. 2. Heat water in a container, when it is hot put a lid on it. The steam will gather at the lid and fall back down. 3. Act out rain with people. Pd. 6: 1. Pour small water in a terrarium, close it up, and water would heat up and watch evaporate and condense. 2. Container of water, container of soil. Put towel in water and wring over soil to show rain. 3. Crumble up paper like clouds, squeeze water on them, and have them pour like rain.

Plan Summary One way to simulate rain is to create a miniature atmosphere system. To do this we will create a body of water, a cloud, and a heat source all within a small atmospheric system.

Hypothesis Pd. 1: If we simulate a miniature atmosphere with water, a cloud and a heat source, then we should be able to create rain because heated water evaporates, rises and cools to form clouds and rain. Pd. 2: If we create a miniature atmosphere system with water, heat, and a cloud then we can simulate how rain is formed with evaporation because heated water evaporates into condensation which becomes clouds with rain. Pd. 4: If we create a miniature atmosphere system using a body of water, a cloud, and a heat source then we can make it rain because the heat source will evaporate the water which will turn into clouds and rain. Pd. 5: If we set up a small atmosphere using water, a cloud, and a heat source then we should be able to simulate rain because warm water evaporates and rises up to make clouds which form rain. Pd. 6: If we create a miniature atmosphere system using water, cloud, and a heat source, then we will simulate the water cycle of rain because the water will evaporate, make clouds, and rain.

Procedure 1- Gather materials and make sure they are clean. 2- Measure 250 mL of water in the beaker. 3- Pour the water from the beaker into the pie pan. 4- Place the rock in the center of the pie pan so that it is sticking out of the water. 5- Cover the pie pan in the plastic wrap. Ensure that the plastic wrap is pulled tight and no area is left uncovered. 6- Place the ice cubes in the petri dish. 7- Gently set the petri dish with ice cubes on the center of the plastic wrap.

Materials 1- Pie pan 1- Rock (mountain) 1- Lamp (heat source) 1- Petri dish 1- 400-500 mL beaker 250 mL of water 6- medium sized ice cubes (cloud) 12 inch sheet of plastic wrap

Procedures Continued 8- Set up lamp so that the light is focused on the pie pan. 9- Observe what happens to the water within the atmospheric system. 10- Write down any observations you make during the investigation.

Analysis and Conclusion What did you observe? How did you simulate rain within your mini atmosphere? How long did it take for rain drops to form? What caused the rain drops to form? How is this similar to rain our atmosphere?

Reflection What have you learned from this investigation? How does this relate to the things you learned last year? How could you use this knowledge in your life?