The Science Explained
The blue cold water sinks while the red warm water rises. This happens because of convection. The blue water represents the cold air mass and the red water represents the warm, unstable air mass. A thunderstorm is caused by unstable air and convection plays an important part. A body of warm air is forced to rise by an approaching cold front therefore thunderstorm’s form.
Lesson Summary
Explore how thunderstorms form in this hands-on activity that demonstrates hot and cold air convection.
Objectives
The learner will:
- Describe the basic process of convection by observing the movement of warm and cold water in the container.
- Use evidence from the activity to explain how thunderstorms form, focusing on the role of rising warm air and sinking cold air.
Procedure
Step One
Fill the plastic container two-thirds full with lukewarm water
Step Two
Let the water sit for one minute
Step Three
Ask students to place a blue ice cube at one end of the plastic container
Step Four
Add three drops of red food coloring to the water at the other end of the plastic container
Step Five
Have students observe what happens, and record observations in their science journals
Did You Know?
By 1980, a new series of GOES was in orbit. The second generation of satellites could observe vertical profiles of temperature and moisture throughout the various layers of the atmosphere. This information gave forecasters a more accurate picture of the intensity and extent of storms.