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How does the mass of an object� impact its movement

in a �tornado?

Grade: 2

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Purpose

The purpose of this experiment is to show how the weight of an object affects how long the object stays in circulation in a tornado before it settles back to the ground.

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Hypothesis

If an object has more mass, then it will settle faster in a tornado than objects with less mass.

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Materials

4 2L plastic soda bottles with 1-inch opening
1 2-way bottle connector
3 small objects with 3 different weights

3 small beads - total weight 0.01 oz
3 medium beads - total weight 0.03 oz
3 large beads - total weight 0.09 oz

1 kitchen scale
18 ¾ cups water (6 ¼ cups water per 2 2L plastic bottles) in a large pitcher
1 4-cup liquid measuring container
1 stopwatch

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Procedure

Label the 2L bottles #1, #2, #3,and #4
Weigh each set of beads that will go inside the bottles and write down the total weight of each set.
Place the bead sets into the bottles starting with the lightest set of beads in the bottle #1, the medium weighted beads in bottle #2 and the heaviest set of beads in bottle #3.
Measure 6 ¼ cups water with the measuring cup. Pour the water into bottle #1. Repeat for bottles #2 and #3.
Attach the two-way connector to bottle #1.
On the open end of the two-way connector, attach the empty bottle #4.
Flip bottle #4 and #1 over so the empty bottle is on the bottom and press start on the stopwatch.
Twist the top bottle in a rapid, circular motion while the bottom bottle is resting against a tabletop until a tornado forms in the top bottle.
Watch the beads and tornado. When the beads stop rotating in the tornado, stop the stopwatch and record the time.
Flip the bottle over so the water returns to the bottle #1 and the empty bottle #4 is again on top.
Repeat steps 7-10 two more times.
Remove bottle #4 and the two-way connector.
Repeat steps 5-11 with bottle #2 three times and then bottle #3 three times.

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Study of the Time in Rotation of Different Mass in Tornados

Data Tables

	Weight of beads	Test 1	Test 2	Test 3	Average Time
Bottle #1	0.01 oz	41.14 seconds	45.38 seconds	42.33 seconds	42.95 seconds
Bottle #2	0.03 oz	38.82 seconds	39.31 seconds	35.41 seconds	37.85 seconds
Bottle #3	0.09 oz	36.13 seconds	30.31 seconds	30.40 seconds	32.28 seconds

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Conclusions

After reviewing the data, my conclusion is the more something weighs, the faster it settles in a tornado. The lighter beads averaged 42.95 seconds before settling in the tornado. The middle weighted beads settled slightly faster than the lightest ones, in an average of 37.85 seconds. The heaviest beads settled the fastest in the tornado, in 32.28 seconds. The hypothesis that if an object has more mass, then it will settle faster in a tornado than objects with less mass was proven correct by this experiment.

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Real World Connections

If a tornado is coming through your town, it’s important to know how to stay safe. In order to stay safe, you need to know what the tornado can pick up and what will remain safe on the ground. For example, if you are holding onto a chair outside that is light, that would not be as safe as going inside and holding onto something attached to the house like a bathtub.