Raindrops

I was looking forward to a nice day out walking today, but when I looked out of the window, I saw that the sunshine had gone and it was raining really heavily. I started to think about the rain, and I wondered how it forms. So I thought we could have a go at making our own rain cloud.

 

To do this, you will need:

• a clear cup
• water
• shaving foam
• several drops of food colouring

 

Instructions:

1. Put water in the cup until it is almost full.
2. Add a layer of shaving foam to amke a cloud.
3. Slowly add drops of food colouring to the foam.
4. Watch as the rain begins to fall!

 

What is happening?

As you add the drops of food colouring to the cloud, it begins to get heavier and the drops fall through as rain. When water droplets grow heavy in the sky, gravity pulls them down from the clouds as rain, just like in the experiment.

If you would like to watch this experiment, go to:

What do you think will happen if you add some red drops and yellow drops?

What will happen if you add blue drops and yellow drops?

What will happen if you add blue drops and red drops?

 

Don't forget to take a photo of your investigation and bring it to show your teachers.

While you are making your own rainclouds, you can sing along to the song @Raindrops keep fallin'on my head'

                                                  Have fun with your rain!

Mrs McGrath