The Tornado Tube is a device made of molded plastic that can be used to connect two two-liter soda bottles. When one of the bottles is filled with liquid and the two bottles are connected with a Tornado Tube, they may be used as a children's educational toy demonstrating a vortex.[1]

The device was accidentally invented in 1968 by Craig Burnham for a school science fair project as an attempt to create an hour glass with water. When the original concept failed to function, a frustrated shake created a vortex in the bottle rather than a slow drip.[2] In late 1986, the device was reimagined as a toy, at which point prototypes were constructed from plastic and a U.S. patent was granted. The toy debuted at the 1988 American International Toy Fair[3] Originally constructed of household materials, the retail toy is made from molded plastic produced in southern New Hampshire.[4] The toy has been produced in the United States since 1988 and millions of units have been sold across the world, with its popularity peaking in the late 1990s.[4]

A similar effect may be achieved by duct taping two soda bottles together.[5]

References

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  1. ^ Greene, Kim. "5 Spring Weather Activities". Scholastic. Retrieved 2021-07-13.
  2. ^ "Forgotten School Project Makes Man Rich". The Sun, December 5, 1989
  3. ^ "Going Down the Tubes". The Salem Evening News, February 8, 1988
  4. ^ a b "Tornado Tycoon". The Salem Evening News, March 20, 1997 Vol, 117 No. 130
  5. ^ "Make a Tornado". The Journal Times. 1998-05-10. pp. 3E. Retrieved 2021-07-13.

Further reading

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  • US 4625780A, Burnham, Craig, "Vortex connector", published 1986-12-02  (patent)