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How to Make a Cloud in a Beaker

Clouds form when water vapor attached to particulates in the atmosphere encounter changing air temperature and pressure. All of these elements -- vapor, particulates, pressure and temperature -- must be present for a cloud to form. You don't have to wait for the weather conditions to be perfect to make a cloud, though. You can simulate these conditions at home with a few readily available materials. There are several ways to do this, but they all involve the same basic materials and steps.

Things You'll Need

Glass beaker
Plastic zipper top bag
Ice
Warm water
Matches

Instructions

Cloud in a Glass Beaker
- 1
  Fill a zipper top bag with ice and seal it.
- 2
  Add warm water to the beaker until it is about 1/3 full.
- 3
  Light a match and drop it into the beaker.
- 4
  Quickly cover the beaker with the bag of ice. Make sure the top is completely covered to prevent the cloud from escaping.
Cloud in a Plastic Bottle
- 5
  Fill the plastic bottle 1/3 full with very warm water.
- 6
  Light a match and hold it just above the opening for a minute, then drop the match into the water.
- 7
  Screw the lid on.
- 8
  Squeeze and release the bottle several times.

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