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How to Make a Dust Whirlwind In an Aquarium With a Heat Lamp and Dust

Dust devils aren't just the name of a vacuum. They are a form of whirlwind often found in deserts or other heated areas. A dust whirlwind can be small or large; some have caused some damage due to their strength. A dust devil forms like any other whirlwind: The air near the ground gets very hot, while the air above it stays cooler. The resulting instability causes the hot air to rise while the cooler air falls, and a twisting vortex is created. Though difficult to recreate exactly, with sand and heat a dust devil can be created artificially.

Things You'll Need

Large aquarium
5 lbs. - 10 lbs. of fine dust (75% light to white, 25% dark to black)
Ruler
Heat lamp
Thermometers

Instructions

- 1
  Set the aquarium near a window and in the sunlight if possible. This will help with the heating process required.
- 2
  Pour in the light-colored sand first. Spread it over the entire bottom of the aquarium (larger aquariums give more room for the air, but will require more sand). Make the sand as flat as possible with a ruler to help move it around.
- 3
  Pour in the dark sand toward the middle of the aquarium. Do not mix the two dusts. Spread the dark dust in an even layer atop the light dust with the ruler. It does not have to go from side to side and optimally should only cover a small area in the center.
- 4
  Set up the heat lamp, as well as any sunlight from midday, to focus on the dark dust. If desired, a lidded top can be used to heat the air while allowing in cooler air to destabilize the rest. When this occurs, and the upper air is cooler than the air over the darker sand, a whirlwind should form naturally.
- 5
  Add thermometers to the inside of the glass at the top and the bottom to keep watch on the temperature. When the ground temperature is over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, and the upper air is cooler, a dust whirlwind should form quickly.

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