Solar Tornadoes
This resource uses the context of tornadoes in the solar atmosphere to investigate circular motion and energy changes. A hole is drilled in the bottom of a washing up bowl and orange pith can be used to track the motion of the water when draining through the bottom and creating a vortex. The Key Stage Three activity focuses on circular motion and the relationship between radius, rotation time and speed. The Key Stage Four activity also looks at the change from potential to kinetic energy.
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Downloads
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Teachers' notes 71 KB
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Background info 183 KB
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Key stage four student brief 69.5 KB