Condensation Experiment

We started with a cup of ice and red water.  Students were asked: Where does the water on the outside of the cup come from?  Many students felt that it came from the ice.  Some, from the water inside the cup.
We watched and waited.  First, students noticed a whitish fog above the water inside (through) the cup.  Then droplets of water began to appear.  Finally, the water droplets became large and rolled down the cup onto the table.  We used a white tissue to wipe the droplets and discovered that the water was clear.  Therefore the water did not come from inside the cup.  We read the text which discussed water in the air and condensation.  They connected this with the water cycle and found similarities with rain.

 

It was a hot day so when we finished our observations, we drank the punch!