Shape of Raindrops

Do you think the shape of raindrops

like teardrops? Click one of buttons

YesYes NoNo

Oh Dear!

It is incorrec

t !

NEXTNEXT

Please click the

NEXT button to see the reason.

Do you think the shape of rain likes the tear? Pls click one of

buttons

Congratulations! Answer is

correct!

Pls click the NEXT button to see the real shape of rain dr

op

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According to the study by Philipp Lenard in 1898,

the small raindrops (< 2 mm diameter)

are approximately

spherical.

During falling, rain drops take on shapes with flattened bases and rounded

tops. Thus, they like falling

hamburger buns than teardrops.

When raindrops are falling, they crashes other

raindrops.

Hence, the collision causes

distortions in the drops' shapes.

Also, it causes drops to merge, and then form a larger

drop.

Do you think the drops can keep

the shape of larger

hamburger buns during falling?

Do you think the drops can keep

the shape of larger

hamburger buns during falling? Please click the correct button.

YesYes NoNo

Ha! Ha!It is incorrect!

NEXTNEXT

Pls click NEXTbutton to find out the

truth.

Good Job!

Do you know what shapeof larger raindrops change

during falling? Clickthe NEXT button to see

the result.

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If size of drop is less than 5mm, the drop can

keep the shape like hamburger

bun.

If size of drop is greaterthan 5mm, the force of air

breaks the surface tension of drop.

Thus, the drop is broken into the smaller drops like

hamburger bun again!

Such phenomenon continues until the drop has fallen

on the ground.

Web Site For Details Of Shape Of Raindrops

1. http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/science_sky/91232

2. http://www.ems.psu.edu/~fraser/Bad/BadRain.html

3. http://weather.about.com/od/cloudsandprecipitation/a/rainburgers.

htm

4. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rain_drop

5. http://www.shorstmeyer.com/wxfaqs/float/float.htmlYou can click the above website address

to see the details of shape of rain drop, or click END button to finish this lesson.

ENDEND