Science experiments · lesson 9 of 30 · free

Water cycle in a bowl — Science experiments for kids

You need: a big bowl with some water, a small empty cup in the middle, cling film, ice cubes and sunlight. What happens: drops form under the cling film and drip into the cup. Why: the Sun warms the water and some evaporates into water vapour (water as a gas). The vapour touches the cold cover, cools and condenses back into drops, which fall like rain. The same thing makes drops on the outside of a cold glass.

▶ Watch how it works

Got it? Practise ↓

What you do

Up as vapour, down as drops — “evaporation and condensation make the water cycle”

  1. 1. Pour some water into the big bowl and stand the small cup in the middle.
  2. 2. Cover the bowl tightly with cling film.
  3. 3. Put a few ice cubes on top of the film, over the cup.
  4. 4. Leave it in the sun for an hour and look for drops in the cup.

Use it for: Class 3–7 lessons on the water cycle, evaporation and condensation; a simple experiment with explanation.

Worked example: 💧 Why do water drops form on the outside of a glass of ice water? → vapour in air cools

  1. Water vapour in the air touches the cold glass.
  2. It cools and turns back into liquid drops — condensation.

Check: A misty bathroom mirror is condensation too ✓

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✏️ Practice

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🏁 Lesson 9 test

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🖨️ Water Cycle Experiment Worksheet

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