Students introduce water vapor and smoke into a bottle, pressurize it, and quickly release the pressure. The rapid depressurization decreases the temperature of the water vapor, which encourages it to condense around the smoke particles. A cloud forms.
Required Equipment
Pressure Pumper, Matches, Empty 20oz or half-liter soda bottle
Acknowledgements: Thank you to Cary Busby for her work in developing this lab. Cary has been High School Physics teacher and has presented physics related workshops at NSTA conferences and State science conferences around the country.
Download Teacher Notes and Student Worksheets
The "Matches and 20 oz. Bottle" required for this lab are readily available at your local grocery or convenience store. Each lab group would need one bottle and the Teacher should control the matches.
