Welcome Back to The Climate Classroom!

Last time, we explored how hail forms when cold water droplets collide inside thunderstorms. Today, we’ll discover how thunderstorms hold chunks of ice in the air—and investigate how strong those updrafts need to be for different sizes of hail.

Materials Needed

2 ping pong balls

1 golf ball

1 hair dryer

Large clear plastic or glass container

2 beakers or drinking glasses

Red food dye

Experiment Part 1: Demonstrating Updrafts

Prep the Tub:

Fill your clear container with cold water. Add ice to make it extra cold.

Prepare the Hot Water:

Pour hot (not boiling) water into one glass, add 10 drops of red food dye, and stir.

Observe:

Place the dyed hot water glass into the cold water tub. Watch the red water rise—this simulates an updraft!

(Wh

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