Module 1   Case Study
Make a Snowstorm!* Procedure: 1. Put ice mixed with salt in the bottom of the larger can.
2. Place the small can on the ice so that its top is level with the top of the larger can.
Teacher Notes 1-7.2b
Materials: - 1 large can (or pail) - 1 smaller can - ice - salt - dry ice (optional)
3. Pack ice and salt in the space between the cans. The larger can will become very cold, so consider wrapping a towel around it to protect your hands.
4. The air in the smaller can will become very cold. Breathe into the small can. The cold will condense the water vapor in your breath into a cloud. When cold enough, snow will form in the cloud.
5. You may shave tiny bits of dry ice into your cloud. Shine a flash light into it and you will see sparkling crystals of ice.
6. Gently breathe into the cloud again.
When enough moisture is present, the crystals will grow heavy enough to fall out of the cloud as small snowflakes.
7. Share with students that the shape of the snow crystals (six basic shapes exist) tells us about the climate conditions when they were formed—for example, how much moisture was in the atmosphere, which is one of the things Dr. Foster studies in the crystals that Team GoNorth! collects on the trail to ship back to NASA for analysis.
Learn more about snow, how it forms, the basic shapes, and its relation to climate change in the Snow section of Investigate in Logistics at PolarHusky.com
*This experiment was adapted from “Snowstorm in a Can” by Bizarrelabs.com