This article covers everything you need to know to create and study the tornado in a box.
Materials Needed for Tornado in the Box
The first thing you need is a box. The box should be taller than it is wide, and about one to two feet tall. You will also need plastic wrap or cling film, tape, a utility knife or strong scissors, a small electric fan, cone incense, an incense dish, and matches. You might also like to use black construction paper to line the box. This is optional, although it makes the tornado easier to see.
Preparing the Box for the Tornado
Begin to prepare the box for the tornado by cutting out a window on one of the tall sides. Cover this opening with the plastic wrap, taping the edges well. Make sure this opening is large enough so you can see most of the inside of the box.
If you wish, line the inside of the box with black construction paper now. The dark background will make it easier to see the tornado in the box.
Next, cut out a circle from the top of the box just big enough to fit the fan into. If necessary, reinforce the top of the box so the fan can rest on top without collapsing the whole science project.
Making the Tornado in the Box
The tornado you will make in the box will show up due to smoke from the incense. Pick a scent you like and place one or two cones in a shallow dish. You can use an incense holder or a saucer or pie plate. Light this on fire as you would normally do for incense.
Next, place the smoking incense dish in the bottom of your box. Position it in the center of the box for the best tornado action.
Position the fan at the opening in the top of the box and turn it on at a low speed. Make sure the air is drawing up and out of the box instead of pushing down into it.
A thin tornado should form inside the box. If it does not work and the smoke is scattered, try slowing down the speed of the fan further or moving it slightly up away from the box. You might also need to make an air intake hole near the bottom of the box. Experiment until the tornado works.
Making a tornado in a box is a great science project for fairs or homeschool science unit studies. Not only is it a lot of fun, but it teaches important information about the awesome weather that affects our world.
