The Science of Snowflakes

What forms snowflakes in clouds?

• Ice crystals
• Water vapor
• Cloud particles
• Air pressure

How does the cloud temperature affect snowflakes?

• It influences the size and shape of the snowflakes
• It has no effect
• It only affects the speed at which they fall
• It makes them harder

What happens to snowflakes when they reach the ground?

• They can accumulate into snowdrifts
• They evaporate instantly
• They freeze into ice
• They turn into rain

How are snowflakes studied by scientists?

• Using high-resolution photography and microscopes
• By feeling them with the hands
• By studying their color
• By measuring their weight

How does humidity affect snowflake formation?

• Higher humidity leads to larger snowflakes
• Lower humidity leads to larger snowflakes
• Humidity does not affect snowflakes
• Humidity only affects the color of snowflakes

What temperature is ideal for the formation of intricate snowflakes?

• -12°C
• -5°C
• -2°C
• -8°C

What is "fractal symmetry" in snowflakes?

• A repeating pattern at different scales
• A perfect symmetrical design
• A pattern created by sunlight
• A pattern formed by temperature alone

How fast can a snowflake fall?

• About 1-2 miles per hour
• About 10-15 miles per hour
• About 30 miles per hour
• About 50 miles per hour

What is the average size of a snowflake?

• 2 to 5 millimeters in diameter
• 1 millimeter
• 10 centimeters
• 15 centimeters

How do snowflakes grow in the atmosphere?

• By accumulating more water vapor
• By freezing at a rapid pace
• By gaining altitude
• By absorbing sunlight

What phenomenon occurs when snowflakes hit a warm object?

• They melt
• They shatter
• They freeze instantly
• They change color

What is one way snowflakes contribute to Earth's climate?

• They reflect sunlight, helping to regulate temperature
• They absorb heat from the atmosphere
• They increase cloud cover
• They cause global warming

What is the ideal temperature for snowflake formation?

• Below freezing
• Above freezing
• Around 0°C
• At 20°C

Which of the following does NOT contribute to the unique shape of a snowflake?

• Human interaction
• Temperature and humidity
• Air currents
• Cloud conditions

What is the scientific name for the process of snowflake formation?

• Crystallization
• Melting
• Evaporation
• Condensation

What do scientists call the process where snowflakes change as they fall through the air?

• Snow crystal growth
• Snow melting
• Snow evaporation
• Snow deposition

What causes each snowflake to have a unique shape?

• Variations in temperature and humidity
• The speed of the wind
• The altitude of formation
• The color of the sky

What term describes a snowflake's growth from a single ice crystal?

• Nucleation
• Condensation
• Evaporation
• Precipitation

What is the importance of snowflakes in Earth's ecosystem?

• They help regulate temperature and provide water for ecosystems
• They increase sunlight
• They block wind
• They create a cooling effect on land

What is one of the most famous aspects of snowflakes?

• No two are exactly alike
• They are always white
• They always fall in clusters
• They are made of salt

What scientific field studies the formation of snowflakes?

• Meteorology
• Geology
• Botany
• Physics

What is the main factor that determines the size of a snowflake?

• Temperature and humidity
• Altitude
• Speed of the wind
• Type of precipitation

What do snowflakes consist of?

• Ice and water vapor
• Water droplets and dust
• Air and water vapor
• Water and light

How many sides does a snowflake typically have?

• 6
• 8
• 4
• 12

What does the term "snowflake" originally refer to?

• A single ice crystal
• Frozen rain
• An entire snowstorm
• A snow-covered tree

What role does the atmosphere play in snowflake formation?

• It provides the moisture for ice crystals to form
• It raises the temperature
• It creates the pressure needed for condensation
• It filters pollutants from the snow

Which of the following is NOT a type of snowflake shape?

• Oval
• Dendrite
• Plate
• Column

What do researchers use to study snowflakes in great detail?

• Microscopes
• Telescopes
• X-ray machines
• Radar

What is the most likely shape for a snowflake to take if the temperature is very low?

• Plate-like or dendritic
• Columnar
• Needle-like
• Cubic

What is a snowflake's symmetry?

• Hexagonal
• Pentagonal
• Quadratic
• Irregular

What effect does pollution have on snowflakes?

• It can cause them to become dirty or change shape
• It makes them freeze faster
• It makes them fall quicker
• It has no effect on them

How can snowflakes be classified?

• By their shape and structure
• By their size only
• By the time of day they fall
• By their color

How long can a snowflake remain intact after it reaches the ground?

• It depends on the temperature and humidity
• It melts within minutes
• It lasts indefinitely
• It disappears within hours

What natural phenomenon is closely associated with snowflakes?

• Snowstorms
• Rain
• Thunderstorms
• Hurricanes

Which element makes up the molecular structure of snowflakes?

• Water
• Oxygen
• Hydrogen
• Nitrogen

What is the role of water vapor in snowflake formation?

• It freezes onto ice crystals to form snowflakes
• It melts snowflakes
• It makes snowflakes grow larger
• It is irrelevant to snowflake formation

Which process directly leads to the formation of a snowflake?

• Freezing of water vapor
• Condensation of water vapor
• Evaporation of water
• Sublimation of ice

What is the speed at which a snowflake typically falls?

• Around 1-2 miles per hour
• Around 5 miles per hour
• Around 10 miles per hour
• Around 15 miles per hour

What happens to a snowflake when it moves through a region of warmer air?

• It melts or partially melts
• It becomes more intricate
• It becomes larger
• It stays the same

What shape does the core of a snowflake usually begin as?

• Hexagonal
• Pentagonal
• Cubic
• Octagonal

At what altitude do snowflakes typically begin to form?

• At or above 0°C
• Below 0°C
• At ground level
• Above 1,000 meters

What is the primary structure of a snowflake?

• Hexagonal
• Octagonal
• Triangular
• Cubic

What is a "snowflake’s life cycle"?

• The journey from formation to landing
• The time spent in the clouds only
• The process of melting
• The transformation from rain to snow

Which type of snowflake is most commonly seen in nature?

• Dendrite
• Needle
• Plate
• Column

What happens when snowflakes fall through warmer air?

• They melt
• They get bigger
• They remain unchanged
• They freeze more

What is the most common snowflake shape found in nature?

• Dendritic
• Plate-like
• Columnar
• Needle-like

What happens to snowflakes when they land on a surface?

• They may melt or compact
• They remain floating
• They turn into rain
• They explode

How does wind affect snowflakes?

• It can distort their shape
• It has no effect
• It causes them to evaporate
• It freezes them faster

Which country is known for having the largest recorded snowflakes?

• United States
• Canada
• Russia
• Norway