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Rain Drop Formation

By Janice VanCleave

How do raindrop form?

One way that rain drops form is called accretion. This is the process by which cloud droplets (very tiny drops of liquid water forming clouds) combine forming larger drops. This happen when the drops bump into each as well as when they get very near each other.

Water molecules have an attraction for each other, so when they are near each other, they tend to draw together and combine. This attraction is called cohesion.

Discover for Yourself

cohesion

Place a 12-inch (30-cm) piece of wax paper on a flat, steady surface, such as a table. Dip your finger into a cup of tap water and allow 3 to 4 drops of water to drop on the paper about 2 inches (5 cm) apart. Using a toothpick, move one of the water drops toward a second drop. Observe what happens when the drops get near each other. Repeat with the remaining water drops.

204 Sticky, Gloppy, Wacky and Wonderful Experiments

204 Sticky, Gloppy, Wacky and Wonderful Experiments

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Filed Under: Earth Science Tagged With: cohesion, raindrops

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The spoon hanging from the string vibrates when struck and these vibrations are transmitted through the string and the sound is amplified by the plastic cups. ABOUT ME: Hi, I am Janice VanCleave, author of 50 best-selling science experiment books for children ages 4 through high school. I taught science for 27 years. MORE.....

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