Tornado Tubes

(44 reviews)

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Demonstrate a vortex in your classroom!

Description

Demonstrate a vortex in your classroom! Some people refer to it as a tornado in a bottle. Show that in order for water to flow down, air must flow up. These amazing connectors screw onto two plastic soda bottles (you can buy new ones from E.I., Item number BOT-600 and allow students and teachers to create a water vortex. Or, connect two small soda bottles and make a sand timer. One of our all time favorites. Colors and styles may vary.

Helpful tip: When the cap is removed from a soda bottle it often leaves behind a jagged "security ring". To ensure the best seal, cut off this ring before using our bottle connectors.

Video

Tornado in a bottle with small plastic cow

Lesson Ideas

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Reviews

44 reviews

Great Project for Elementary Grades!

May 15, 2023

I have done over a thousand bottle tornados, mostly with third and fifth graders. It's an OLD experiment, but the kids absolutely love it! The first thing a new class asks is if we are going to make them! I use color tablets for the tornados, which work well. I also use the 1 liter bottles you can buy here or elsewhere. They are the perfect size for this age. The connectors are hard plastic, which is good. Connectors made from 3-D printers are not strong enough and will leak. These connectors often leak as well, which is the result of the necks of the bottles having been made shorter a number of years ago. To prevent the leaks, go to a hardware store and buy some cheap white Teflon plumbers tape. Put two wraps around the bottle threads of each bottle before attaching the connector. Tighten securely, and the bottles should not leak. If they do, just unscrew and wrap more tape around them. My ONLY complaint (and it's a small one) is that I wish there were more blue, green, and teal, and less red and yellow. The "cool" colors are always more popular!

Lee Wilkinson

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Add a Monopoly house (or two)

Aug 22, 2022

Put a green wood or plastic house from the game Monopoly into one empty bottle. Observe that it floats. It can float anywhere on the flat surface of still water or rising water. Predict how it will behave if you make a vortex in its bottle. The house is too big to fit through the aperture between the bottles. Observe that it moves close to the bottom of the tornado funnel, and sits there at a particular level on the nearly vertical water surface, spinning rapidly. Its motion is like Dorothy's house in one particular shot in the movie The Wizard of Oz. (I think that, as suggested by Bernoulli's principle, the water pressure is lower closer to the axis of the vortex, where the water moves faster. Then the higher-pressure water at greater radius pushes inward on the house. After observing this motion thoroughly, take the bottles apart and add a second house to the one in one bottle. (Or if your students are really into it, add another house to each bottle.) Predict how the houses should behave if the water level is rising, and how they should behave if they are circling the drain. Credit: This demonstration was suggested by a display at the Stanislaw Lem Park in Krakow, Poland, which uses water with a bit of soap suds.

Ralph McGrew

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Kids Loved This

Aug 11, 2020

I didn't fully understand what I was ordering, however it was great. My grandchildren played for hours and hours with the tornadoes they created with the tornado tubes. In these days of kids begin addicted to their electronics, this product is refreshingly simple.

Karla Koontz

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Worth It

Mar 23, 2020

This is such a simple piece but it created hours of fun for our 7yo and 5yo. Try changing the colors or the bottles for a different experience. Works perfectly.

Paul

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Tornado Tube

May 15, 2019

I use this demonstration to help students with understanding of the fire tornado that I demonstrate prior to this one. I'm curious to know whether I am correct in my explanation. In the fire tube demonstration a small amount of acetone is poured on a sponge that sits inside a metal pie pan, which rests on a lazy Susan. When the acetone is set on fire it just sits there, the flame flickers, which I attribute to the hot air rising while the cold air is moving downwards - a battle between the two. When a wire screen is placed around the fire and the lazy Susan is rotated the flame spirals upwards, about 2-3 feet inside and burns hotter (yellow to blue flame). The colder, denser air moves to the outside while the hotter air rises up the center - an easier path for the two airs to travel without interfering with one another. In the tornado tube demonstration the same effect can be seen. When the bottles are just turned over, the water and the air just go "glug, glug" like the flickering flame, but when the bottle is spun, the denser water moves to the outside, the air has an easier path to rise up, Is this the same phenomena? We have used this demonstration a few times when it was safe to do the fire tornado. Otherwise, it is in the room where my students can play with it before and after class. I don't know if the bottle bushing will help with the leaking problem. I'll have to try them out. The leaking is not a real problem and a little Duck Tape helps reduce the leaking problem. It's a great product for young and older "kids" (adults too) to perform and attempt to explain!

Kenneth Lyle

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Good product for the price

Sep 30, 2018

I bought them for a tornado experiment in a classroom. They leaked a little, but it was still ok to use with an absorbing pad underneath. Kids loved making tornadoes and small leaking didn't bother them, so we all enjoyed the experiment.

Elena Shersher

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tornado bottles

Aug 11, 2016

Such a simple toy, but so fascinating. My grandchildren love them - but they (6 and 8) did need a bit of a hint how to start the tornado by swirling the top bottle. A couple of suggestions: Don't let your kids get too carried away with the food coloring. If the water color is too dark, it's hard to see the tornado. Also, be sure the remove the ring from the bottle neck, left after the cap is removed. If it's left on, the connection will leak.

Judith Ellis

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parent

Jun 22, 2016

Love this product but unfortunately 1 of the 3 is defective

Paulette Ferruzzo

Owner Response: Paulette, we will send out another immediately! Sorry for any inconvenience.

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Great Product!

Jul 30, 2015

Great product! Fast shipping! Cheapest on the market!

Sarah

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Tornado Tubes

Jul 28, 2015

The product worked just as it was discribed

Nancy Thompson

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Customer

Jul 25, 2015

Great service! The vortex bottles were awesome my students loved them! I will definitely order from you again! Thank you

Rob

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Tornado connectors

Jul 17, 2015

Ordering was fast and easy. A little spendy but the least expensive than anywhere else I found. Delivery was also fast and everything was intact and ready to use! Thank you!

Charlyn Van Slyke

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Great Product

Jan 30, 2015

Great product but if you don't get it on the bottle perfectly they leak.

Stacy Corll

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vortex connectors

Dec 29, 2014

awesome product!!! very useful for many projects!!

paula

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Tornado Tube Christmas

Dec 22, 2014

At a local restaurant I met a former student. I taught kindergarten for over 20 years. This young man said the one thing he remembered was the tornados we made and he wanted to reproduce this for his son. I ordered it for him and made his Christmas.

Barbara Meredith

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100% As Advertised!

Nov 21, 2014

While I am sure that these coupling devices would contribute to an entertaining and educational experience in a classroom, I was looking for something to help me out around the kitchen. I use them to fill smaller, one liter, bottles from larger, say one gallon, bottles without making a mess. I just have one of my one liter bottles that I have cut the bottom off of, therefore making it a somewhat functional funnel. I Use one of these Tornado In A Bottle connectors to join my funnel to the bottle I want to fill and I never spill a drop. OK, I must admit that after I filled the vinegar and peanut oil bottles I needed to fill I spent about an hour playing with tornados in my kitchen. I remember that experience as a child, it was one of the things that got me interested in science. Thank you for this 100% As Advertised product. By the way, do you make them for larger bottles? If so, I would like to get some of them too.

Fred Robinson

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Vortex Bottle Connectors

Apr 29, 2014

Great product. Its the best way to do the hurricaine in a bottle science project for kids. Shipped and arrived quickly.

Musa

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Great Quality and Old Standby

Apr 22, 2014

Anyone who has enjoyed watching spinning water will continue the fascination with these. Good for all ages.

Marilyn Gorman

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Hard to find items

Apr 21, 2014

Thanks for having those little hard to find items when you need them.

Alton N

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leak a bit but do the trick

Mar 28, 2014

as long as I have a tray its ok. They leak a bit but still keep the kids engaged

Beth M

Owner Response: We are sorry your connectors are leaking. Have you removed the safety ring from the cap? If not, the connector will not seal properly. If you continue to have problems, please return your bottle connectors for a replacement or refund.

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What a mess

Mar 11, 2014

I remember soda bottles been more standardized, but today there are so many sized necks that when stirred, it just makes a mess on the floor, whether carpet or not!

Mi'ele

Owner Response: The Vortex Bottle Connectors should work on every bottle made. We have found, however, that if the cap's safety ring is not removed from the neck of the bottle, the Vortex Connector cannot be screwed down enough to form a good seal. The ring can be easily removed using a scissor. Please let us know if you have any difficulty moving forward. Thank you for your review!

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Meteorologist

Nov 27, 2013

The vortex bottle connectors were great! There were a few leaks here or there, but that may have been my bottles. The kids had a blast with them, and they served as a great learning tool. If I had one complaint to voice, it would be that there wasn't much color variation... In a set of 10, I received 6 yellow ones, 2 red, 1 blue, and 1 green. Try to mix it up a bit in the future! Otherwise, great product, fast shipping, easy service.

Kimberly Newman

Owner Response: Thank you, Kimberly. We will try to do a better job of mixing up the colors. Also, check your bottles to be sure the safety ring has been removed from the neck. If not, that will cause the bottles to leak.

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Tornado Tube Connectors

May 7, 2013

Fairly inexpensive and very easy to use but they are not good to use with one-liter bottles, only two-liter ones.

Lee Posniack

Owner Response: Lee, thank you for your review. The tops of all new one and two-liter bottles are manufactured with the same specifications so our bottle connectors should work well with both. Please be sure to remove the bottom security ring from the neck of the bottle when attaching the Tornado Tube. This will assure a tight fit.

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PARENT

Mar 22, 2013

worked wonderfully for the project we were conducting; great shipping time but the cost to ship was a bit expensive.

MICHELE

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Kids Love Them!

Mar 14, 2013

The tornado connectors are always a big hit at school. The product has been modified from previous orders and they are much better now. They are durable and prevent leaking.

Lance

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Vortex bottles

Jan 23, 2013

These work great to connect two bottles! The kids had so much fun with this experiment!

Christine

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good but not great

Dec 14, 2012

These are good but wish they would fit the 20 ounce bottles. I teach Pre-K and the 2 liter bottles are just to big and bulky for my students to handle once you have added the water.

Theresa

Owner Response: Thank you for your review. Our bottle connectors are also perfect for use with 1 liter bottles. This should help with those tiny hands.

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Science Teacher

Oct 25, 2012

An impression was given that these will fit on a 2 liter bottle, but they do not. 3 liters are hard to come by.

deborah sitz

Owner Response: Thank you for your review. Our bottle connectors fit on all average size bottles; 1,2 and 3 liter bottles. They will even fit on some small 20 oz bottles. One thing you must do is to be sure the plastic ring, which is often left behind when the bottle is opened, is removed. If the ring remains on the bottle, you will not get a tight fit on the bottle connector.

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Tornado Tubes

Oct 17, 2012

The tornado tubes worked great.

Victoria Noon

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Science Club

Oct 8, 2012

They work great but feel brittle. We will see when we start shooting off our rockets. Thank you!

Jim

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vortex connectors

Sep 24, 2012

Strong, effective, best price around.

Science teacher

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Tornado Tube Connectors

May 29, 2012

These were a great for a birthday party project! The kids loved them and learned something while doing it.

Lisa Trivison

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It's a kid twister

May 29, 2012

The tornado tubes have been the best thing I could buy for my special science class. Students who didn't like science can't stop twirling the bottles, watching the "tornado" inside. It's great for open house as the parents get involved as well. I put out several bottles with different food coloring added to the water. It makes a very colorful display. The most important thing about the tornado tube besides it being a great teaching tool, it is a great motivator. Students receive points for doing science homework and classwork. They can then cash in their points for "prizes." Their favorite prize is the tornado tube. What a twister!!!

Ms. Linda Hoffman

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bottle connectors really work!

May 25, 2012

I've used these bottle connectors on 12 oz bottles and 2 L bottles. They work great and don't leak! I've had a 2L bottle set up in my office for several years with no problems, despite lots of people playing with it!!

Starr Jordan

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Great for party favors!

May 22, 2012

If you're having a science party, kids will love learning how to make their own "tornado" in a bottle. It's a fun, active way to teach them about vortexes and they'll be thrilled that they can take their projects home.

Jenny

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Vortex Connector (Tornado in a Tube)

May 22, 2012

My nine year old son really enjoyed using one of these for a science project on Whirlpools. They are very easy to work with. A little food coloring in the water and you're good to go.

KJF

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Vortex Bottle Connectors

May 22, 2012

Although not used in the classroom, I use these in a product I make and sell - Carpenter Bee Traps. The connector is used to hold the bees that have been trapped, and allow bottles to be easily removed and replaced.

Henri Monnier

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cheap; makes more sense!

May 19, 2012

We've built these tornado demo pieces by just taping bottles together....WHAT A MESS!! Cheap solution for a much neater activity.

kathie

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Preschool Intervention Specialist

May 16, 2012

This is such a great easy project! Using this to connect two bottles filled with different materials is a great way to incorporate science in so many ways. I love it!

Kyle Brehm

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Tornado Tube Connectors

May 16, 2012

These are awesome, and are always a very large hit in our Summer Programs. Kids love taking these home and creating their own Tornado Tubes.

Chris Colter

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Love these!!!

May 16, 2012

I use these in a classroom of 1-4 grade students. They are versatile and they make for a great science center activity. Can add things or multiple liquids to the bottles to make it more interesting, too!

Syd Schulz

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Mrs. B

May 16, 2012

These were great! Used them for showing how a tornado forms and had them displayed during our science fair for people to use. Easy to put together and no leaks! In fact the seal was so secure I had trouble taking them off!

Laura

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Kids loved it!

May 16, 2012

My pre-k kids sat and watched the tornado for a half hour! It worked perfectly!

Larisa

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Great Product

May 11, 2012

In an order of 120 it would be nice to get multiple colors. All we have are blue. But it's a GREAT product.... ...................................................................................................................................... ....................................**Educational Innovations Responds**................................... ...................................................................................................................................... Sorry, Henri, with the change in standards for threads on soda bottles, these connectors had to be retooled, and we were at the mercy of our vendor. In time, we will have more colors available, but unfortunately, the first shipment came in all one color.

Henri Monnier

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NGSS

This product will support your students' understanding of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), as shown in the table below.

Elementary

Middle School

High School

K-ESS3-2
3-ESS3-1

Students can use this Tornado/Vortex Bottle Connector to obtain information about severe weather.

MS-ESS2-5

Students can better understand how the motions and complex interactions of air masses results in changes in weather conditions, when using the bottle connections as an investigation of tornados.

HS-S&E

Develop and use models to predict and show relationships among variables between systems and their components in the natural world.

Suggested Science Idea(s)

K-ESS3-1
K-ESS3-3

Use the Tornado/Vortex Bottle Connection to demonstrate the actions that take place during a tornado. Questions and conversations regarding weather forecasting to prepare for and respond to severe weather.

MS-ESS2-5

Make data collection relevant by allowing students to conduct investigations creating their own vortex weather chambers.

* NGSS is a registered trademark of Achieve. Neither Achieve nor the lead states and partners that developed the Next Generation Science Standards were involved in the production of, and do not endorse, this product.

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Tornado Tubes

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