Make rain

Convection is the transfer of heat by the movement or flow of a substance from one position to another.


Make it rain!

The purpose of this experiment is to see condensation.




Large, wide-mouth container, such as a mayonnaise jar


Hot water




Ice cubes


Small plate to hold ice cubes




Index card


1. Pour two inches of very hot tap water into the glass container and cover with the plate. Allow water to sit for a few minutes.

2. Place ice cubes on the plate.

3. Watch what happens.




The cold plate causes the moisture in the warm air to condense and form water droplets. This is the same thing that happens in the atmosphere as warm, moist air rises and meets colder temperatures high in the atmosphere. Water vapor condenses and forms precipitation that falls to the Earth as rain, sleet, hail, or snow.

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