How to Make a Tornado in a Bottle {that kids love!}

Learn how to make a tornado in a bottle for a really fun activity with your kids. This is the perfect activity to keep the kids entertained while being very simple and budget friendly.

How to make a tornado in a bottle

This cool tornado experiment will provide lots of fun for the kiddos but is so simple to do. Impress your kids and keep them busy with this fun activity.

Children of all ages will love learning how to make a water tornado. With just a few simple items you probably already have, this activity comes together in just minutes.

It is the perfect rainy day activity or when it is just too hot to play outside.

Let’s get started with this cool tornado in a bottle experiment!

This is one of our favorite science experiments and the kids just love it. We have a blast with DIY activities.

Not only is it so fun to do but it is a learning activity as well. This is really a fun science experiment!

Tornado in a bottle experiment questions:

What causes a tornado in a bottle?

The tornado is caused by a vortex that makes the liquids travel in spirals. The vortex happens when a liquid goes through the opening in the bottle and gravity is what makes the liquid go down.

This is so fun for kids to watch and the entire experience is just really fascinating.

What happens when you make a tornado in a bottle?

It all keeps rotating which is how the vortex keeps going and looks like a tornado. It is so neat how all of this works.

My kids were amazed the first time we did this. They thought it was really cool and still love doing it.

Now that we know the tornado in a bottle experiment explanation, let’s make one!

This is so cool and I bet you will make this again and again.

Tornado in a bottle materials:

2 Empty Plastic Bottles – I used 2 liter size for this experiment but you can use any size. Both bottles will need to be the same size.
Water
Duct Tape
Food Coloring (Optional)

You probably already have most of these supplies at home. This experiment is so simple and does not require much to do.

The food coloring is optional. However, I think that it is easier to see the tornado when the color has been added.

I chose black to look more like a dark storm but you can choose any color that you would like.

How to make a tornado experiment:

Add water and food coloring to a pitcher and mix thoroughly.
Use the pitcher and begin filling the bottle ¾ full.
Align the empty bottle directly on top of the bottle with the water in it.
Use the duct tape to secure the 2 plastic bottles together.
To create the tornado, turn the 2 liter bottles full of water over and swirl the water clockwise. Then a tornado will form as the water moves from the top bottle to the lower bottle.

It is so fun to turn the bottle upside down and watch as it creates a water vortex that looks like tornado alley. Spin the bottle slightly in a circular motion toward the center of the vortex.

My kids could do this for hours. It really is so neat to watch and mesmerizing.

If you are making a lot of these experiments for a classroom or any other large group of children, you may consider using these tornado bottle connectors instead of the duct tape. However, if you are just making 1 or 2, the duct tape works great!

Just make sure the bottom bottle is secure. You could probably also use a metal washer to connect them.

We just like using duct tape because we typically always have that here already. Feel free to use what is easiest for you and that you already have on hand.

Just keep it simple!

You can also learn how to make a tornado in a water bottle.

This experiment works the same with water bottles. You can use water bottles instead of 2 liter bottles if you prefer for this tornado tube.

Did you know you can also learn how to make a tornado in a jar?

If you have an empty jar, you can also use this to make a tornado. The technique is a little different but still creates a vortex like the other methods do with centripetal force.

We love making DIY projects!

Learn how to make floam! Your kids will be amazed and have a blast making this.

Learn how to make Homemade Playdough Recipes that your kids will go crazy over. It so easy to make homemade playdough and you can easily make scented, edible, glitter and more varieties of playdough at home!

It is so easy and frugal to make homemade bubbles and your kids will have a blast.

Learn how to make glue and save a ton of money on your craft projects. Homemade Silly Putty is very easy to make and the kids will absolutely love it.

There are tons of fun and frugal activities to do with your kids. Get started today and let us know how everything turns out.

The memories made from doing these activities together are priceless. Long after the projects are finished, your family will have lasting memories of so much fun together.

Choose a project and get started today. You do not have to spend a ton of time or money for it to be a fun project everyone will enjoy. We are all about simple, easy and frugal!

Enjoy! Let us know what you end up trying.

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How to Make a Tornado in a Bottle {that kids love!}