Ice Crystals in a Cold Cloud
Open to everyone until Thursday, October 1
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Inside freezing clouds, water vapor turns directly into ice on tiny dust specks. The crystal’s shape changes with the surrounding temperature and humidity.
In the picture
- Dust speck: a tiny solid particle where an ice crystal begins.
- Broad plate crystal: a flat six-sided ice crystal.
- Six-armed star crystal: a branched ice crystal with six arms.
- Slender column crystal: a narrow six-sided ice column.
- Drifting water vapor: invisible water molecules moving through the cold cloud air.
Examples
- Frost on a car window
- Snowflakes landing on a dark coat sleeve
Key takeaways
- Snow crystals form from water vapor freezing onto dust in clouds.
- Temperature and humidity decide whether crystals become plates, stars, or columns.
Carry on in the app
Three questions on this lesson, to check the idea stuck. Free in the app while the lesson is in the free week.
At least one new illustrated lesson every weekday for your child’s year, with its quiz and a reminder at 6:15 pm.
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