Summer of Science: How Raindrops Form

My goodness, it’s been crazy around here this year and just when I think things are calming down I get smacked in the face with a rather large stick or a text message saying my name is in the paper for a failure to appear in court.  Don’t worry, the stitches are out, though my gums are still jacked up, and the text was apparently a spammer, the courthouse said I’m all good!  These science experiments have been my little bit of normal and a constant reminder that I still haven’t finalized all our homeschooling plans for this year.  When again should I start pulling my hair out while rocking uncontrollably in the corner of the closet?

Seriously though, have your children ever asked you were does rain come from?  No?  Well wait, they will…and you my friend will be able to explain it all to them after you read through this experiment!

Supplies

• large glass jar with lid
• water
• ice cubes

Directions

Put a little bit of water in the bottom of your jar.  Invert the lid and fill it with ice cubes. 

It will take about 20-30 minutes for condensation to start forming on the underside of the lid.

Explanation: Water in lakes, streams, oceans, etc., evaporates and once it hits the colder air in the atmosphere in condenses and collects to form clouds.  As the water joins together it gets heavier and heavier until  it falls in the form of rain.

A Little Extra: Take a medicine dropper and a clear plastic lid.  Drop as many SINGLE drops as you can.

Now take the eyedropper and have your kids connect the dots.  You’ll notice the water seems to ‘jump’ together and technically it kind of is!  Water has both negative and positive charged particles so as they come together a basic negative+positive reaction occurs!

Thank You guys for hanging in during this Summer of Science Series!  Remember I’ve saved the best for last so Subscribe today so you don’t miss a thing!