Youth Activity Archive

Activity Description: Manipulate a sealed plastic bottle to make a visible cloud appear and disappear to learn about condensation.

Items Needed:

• 16.9 ounce disposable water bottle with cap
• 1 tsp Isopropyl rubbing alcohol
• (Optional) Safety glasses
• (Optional) Small funnel
• (Optional) How Do Clouds Form? handout

Before the Meeting Starts

1. Prep the bottle. (5–7 min)
   • Take a 16.9 ounce disposable water bottle and empty the water. Leave water droplets clinging to the inside without any water pooled at the bottom.
   • Peel and discard the label from the bottle.
   • Pour the rubbing alcohol into the bottle and seal the cap tightly.
   • Replace the cap and ensure it is sealed tightly.
   • Slowly rotate the bottle so the alcohol coats the entire interior.
   • Twist the middle to constrict the bottle, then release one hand so it snaps back to its original shape.
   • Did fog form inside the bottle? A cloud in a bottle is ready to go.

Instructions (Estimated Total Time: 10 min):

1. Review the safety rule. (1 min)
   • Explain that the cap must never be opened so the cloud ingredients do not escape.
2. Twist the bottle tightly. (1 min)
   • Hold the top of the bottle with one hand and the bottom with the other. Twist the bottom half to squish the air inside. Hold the bottle twisted tightly for a few seconds.
3. Observe the inside of the twisted bottle. (1–2 min)
   • Have the youth look closely inside the bottle while it is compressed.
   • Remind them that the inside should look perfectly clear.
4. Release the bottle quickly. (1 min)
   • Let go so the bottle untwists and pops back to its normal shape.
   • Watch as a foggy cloud instantly appears inside the bottle.
5. Make the cloud disappear. (3–5 min)
   • Direct each youth to try and twist the bottle tight again to watch the cloud vanish. They can repeat this process over and over until the plastic gets weak.
   • Explain Clouds require water vapor, cooling air, and cloud seeds to form. The provided bottle contains water and rubbing alcohol to create these exact conditions safely. Twisting the bottle creates high pressure that warms the air inside, keeping the gas invisible. Untwisting the bottle creates low pressure that rapidly cools the air, condensing the invisible gas into a thick cloud.
6. Dispose of the weak bottle safely. (2 min)
   • A responsible adult must handle the disposal of the bottle once it shows signs of wear, such as deep creases, permanent loss of shape, or hissing sounds.
   • Take the bottle to a well-ventilated area. Pour the remaining liquid down a sink drain with plenty of running tap water.
   • Rinse the empty bottle, leave the cap off to dry, and place it in a plastic recycling bin.

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