Cloud in a Jar!

Did you know you can make a cloud in a jar? Here’s a fun activity for a rainy afternoon: https://researchparent.com/cloud-in-a-jar-experiment/

Supplies:
– a jar
– a lid
– a match
– a few ice cubes
– warm/hot water

1.) First, pour 1 cup of hot water into a 4 cup jar. The amounts do not need to be precise. If you have a bigger or smaller jar, simply fill it about 1/4 to 1/3 full of hot water. The water also does not need to be boiling. Hot water from the tap is sufficient. If you do use boiling water, it will make it harder to see your cloud as the jar will fill with steam and water will condense on the sides of the jar.

2.) Have a grown-up light a match and place it inside the jar. Hold it there for a second or two!

3.) Drop the match into the jar.

4.) Place the lid on the jar, it doesn’t need to screw on, just keep the water vapor from escaping. Then place ice cubes on top of the lid.

5.) Wait for 1 to 2 minutes.

6.) Observe the cloud inside your jar. If there isn’t a cloud inside your jar, it probably means you don’t have enough water vapor or smoke. Try again, but this time, go a little faster. Try not to give your water time to cool off before you light the match. Put the lid on right away after you drop the match, so the smoke doesn’t have time to escape.