Tornado season and extreme weather have come early to parts of the midwest already this year. Tornadoes cause widespread damage and loss of lives. But what is the science behind what causes a tornado to form?
Tornadoes are funnels of spinning air. The winds may reach 250 (400 kilometers) an hour while they bounce and run across the land. They usually form during thunderstorms or supercells. A tornado forms when changes in wind speed and direction cause a horizontal spinning effect within the cloud. Rising air moving up through the cloud tips it vertically.
A funnel cloud does not reach the ground; a tornado touches the ground. The twisters don’t last for long, but can travel at speeds of 10 to 20 miles per hour on the ground.
Even though tornadoes occur around the world, the United States is a hotspot, especially along an area
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This year marked my 14th trip to the New York Toy Fair. And since Toy Fair is always scheduled during Valentine’s Day, this is my 14th year to be away from my wife. So, instead of sending her flowers or taking her to dinner, I just bring her home the latest X-Men action figures and a remote controlled helicopter. Yes, the marriage is going well… thanks for asking.
Almost 27,000 professionals involved in the toy or retail industries from over 100 countries converge on New York to attend the largest and most successful toy trade show. Buyers from over 6,000 retail outlets search through over 100,000 products for “gems” to sell in their stores. Wholesalers and inventors alike display their toys in hoping to find a gateway into the global toy market.
It’s always fun for me to get the opportunity to debut my newest toys at the Be Amazing Toys booth. This is a company that we started in 2002 to serve as the wholesale division
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We have reached Day #8 in our 12 Days of Wonder. Today’s spotlight science toy is Big Bag of Science.
Steve Spangler Science is celebrating the 12 Days of Wonder and highlighting our top 12 science toys and kits that are perfect to put under the tree. As blog editor, social media coordinator and mom of two budding scientists, I will share my review of each product. Steve Spangler Science also found 12 respected, popular mom bloggers to each test and review one of our 12 science gifts. I will include a link to their blogs and their honest reviews of each gift idea at the bottom of this post. Today, Jill from Single Mom on a Budget shares her review. The kit is also the Deal of the Day. So check our blog every day for the next few weeks to learn all about our 12 Days of Wonder.
How long does it take to empty a soda bottle full of water? The answer lies in swirling the water to create a vortex. The vortex looks like a tornado in the bottle. The formation of the vortex makes it easier for air to come into the bottle and allows the water to pour out faster. My boys Scotty, Mark and Jack helped me with the demonstration.
To discover some of the scientific properties of air and water and empty a full bottle of water in seconds, read the Vortex Racing experiment.
