Experiment #1: The Water Cycle in Your Kitchen

Do you know why the mirror in the bathroom fogs up after a shower? The vapour from the hot shower rises from the shower and covers the mirror. Since the mirror is colder, the vapour changes back to water. What is this part of the water cycle called? Is it evaporation, precipitation, or condensation?

Ask a parent to help you create a water cycle in your kitchen.

What you need:
- a pot
- water
- a mirror
- a cup
- an oven mitt

What to Do:

1. Ask an adult to help you boil water in a pot. When the water is hot, you will see steam. Steam is water vapour. This is evaporation. ****Stem is hot. Wear the oven mitt to protect your hand****

2. Ask the adult to hold the shiny side of a mirror over the pot. You will see tiny drop of water form on the mirror. This is condensation.

3. Put a cup under the mirror. Collect the water drops as they fall from the mirror. This is precipitation.

You have just created the water cycle in your kitchen!