Storms | Experiment 2 - Tornadoes: Making a violent vortex
Experiment 2
Tornadoes: Making a violent vortex
Purpose/Hypothesis
Tornadoes occur when air masses clash and result in a spinning vortex. The air in the vortex becomes stretched and narrower with time. As the shape of the funnel gradually narrows, it creates an increase in the rotation speed, resulting in a twist similar to that of a spinning skater.
In this experiment you will observe the relationship between the intensity of a vortex and its shape. You will create a vortex using water; a vortex of fluids behaves similar to that of air. A whirlpool and the water in a draining bathtub are examples of a vortex in liquids. The vortex forms when spinning water, or air, is pulled downwards, in this case by gravity. The funnel of water narrows as it is pulled down.
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