Water Cycle - Activities

Activity:  Precipitation

Materials:  1 large pot           1 small pot             water         ice

Procedure:

• 1.  Boil water in the large pot.
• 2.  Place cold water and ice cubes in the small pot.
• 3.  Place the small pot above the larger boiling pot.

Observation:

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Question:  What made it rain?

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Conclusion:
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Why:  The cold surface of the upper pot cooled the steam (water vapor) from the boiling water.  The steam (water vapor) changes back into water, collecting in drops.  As the drops on the bottom of the small pot get bigger and heavier, it rains or “precipitates.”  The boiling water is like the water heated by the Sun.  The steam is the water that evaporates into the air as water vapor.  As the vapor rises, it cools.  You see clouds when droplets form.  As these droplets collect more moisture, they become heavy enough to fall to earth as rain.