Discovery Exclusive Tornado Lab

by Discovery Channel

Product Features

• Batteries: Requires three AA batteries (not included)
• Dimensions: 6L X 8.25H X 6W inches

Product Details

• ASIN: B000VXU5II
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #141,675 in Toys & Games (See Top 100 in Toys & Games)
• Average Customer Review: 2.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Create your own twirling, whirling vortex and stare into the eye of the storm! Become a tornado expert as you create your own tornadoFive motorized speeds correspond to the internationally recognized F1 – F5 Fujita Scale of measuring tornadoesCool tornado sound effectsIncludes experiments on how different materials react in a vortexDurable plastic machine has see-through top for an unobstructed viewIncludes 22-page, full color tornado guide, full of fun facts, diagrams and scienceConduct your own tornado experimentsBonus DVD – Raging Planet: Tornadoes and HurricanesLearn fascinating facts about these swirling storms, then create your own desktop tornado at home!Safety warning: This product contains small parts that may present a choking hazard for young children.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Good Model and I Should Know, May 29, 2008

By 

T. C, Smith "T.C. Smith" (Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Durability:4.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Discovery Exclusive Tornado Lab (Toy)

This toy is versatile and can be used at many levels. Early learners will like the Halloween-y howling sounds it makes, and will like to watch the spiraling shape. More advanced kids can study specific gravity and weather patterns, as well as learning about the more notorious tornadoes in US history. The tornado lab is fun to use with food coloring in the water, to show how air masses collide; also fun to vary the little items dropped in. Just as in real life, the lighter lower specific gravity items are captured in the vortex and carried up; the higher specific gravity items are tossed out. (I should know; I survived the 1965 Palm Sunday tornado in Indiana. One of my Dad's checkbook registers was returned to us from central Ohio.) We really think this is a fun toy, even for phobics, and we have used one up already and are on our second.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Just awful, July 30, 2009

By 

J. Wahl "meteorologist87" (Kentucky, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Durability:1.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:2.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:1.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Discovery Exclusive Tornado Lab (Toy)

First of all, the craftsmanship is shoddy. After only a week of using this thing prolifically, it started to leak. After reading about the troubles some people had with getting full refunds on both shipping and for the product itself, I hadn't the patience to deal with that at the time; however, i wish i had gotten a refund. This product is overpriced. It should be in the dollar store, because that's probably what it costs Discovery to make this thing. The sound effects they included were annoying and had no educational purpose whatsoever. Kids would have a better learning experience with the tornado tube that connects two soda bottles together. At least that is reliable and doesn't leak. Another gripe I had about this, is that it's battery operated. It would be better if it could be run off of electricity. Bottom line: Don't waste your money on this, you certainly do NOT get what you paid for.

There is a product called the Twister Tube http://www.twistertube.com/default.htm, that looks amazing, but it seems to be more for aesthetics as opposed to education. However, it is still a good product. It's made by a company called Cyclotek. At the moment, however, the site is down because they are refining the product.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Kids loved it, but it's not durable, January 6, 2009

By 

Timothy Moulton - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Durability:1.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:4.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Discovery Exclusive Tornado Lab (Toy)

It didn't leak, well at least not yet, but it sure felt like it was going to given its construction. The kids loved seeing and controlling the whirlpool size.