Forms of Precipitation

Forms of Precipitation

by Summer Ferge

Multiple Choice

Precipitation is water that falls to Earth. Hail, rain, sleet, and snow are four types of precipitation. Which type of precipitation is most likely to occur when the cloud and air temperatures are below freezing?

• rain 

• hail 

• sleet

• snow

Multiple Choice

Which claim BEST explains why some balls of hail have layers?

• Water that freezes high in the atmosphere always forms layers.

• Raindrops freeze from the inside out, forming one layer of ice at a time.

• Cracks form layers in the ball of hail when the hail hits the ground.

• Each time a ball of hail goes up and down within a thundercloud, a layer of ice is added.

Multiple Choice

Which of these best shows the correct sequence that forms sleet?

• rain falls --> freezes --> melts

• snow falls --> melts --> stays melted

• snow falls --> melts --> freezes again

• rain falls --> freezes --> gets blow backup --> melts --> falls again --> refreezes --> repeats multiple times

Multiple Choice

Which of these best shows the correct sequence that forms hail?

• rain falls --> freezes --> melts

• snow falls --> melts --> stays melted

• snow falls --> melts --> freezes again

• rain falls --> freezes --> gets blow backup --> melts --> falls again --> refreezes --> repeats multiple times

Multiple Choice

Precipitation occurs when water moves from the atmosphere to Earth’s surface. The water can be in liquid or solid form. Which two forms of precipitation consist of solid water?

•    hail and rain

• hail and sleet

• rain and snow

• sleet and rain

Multiple Choice

Jack measures the outside temperature as 16 degrees Celsius (°C), 61 degrees Fahrenheit (°F). She observes precipitation falling from the clouds in a solid form.

 

What type of precipitation is Jack most likely observing?

• hail

• rain

• sleet

• snow

Multiple Choice

In a class experiment, Abel observed snow under a microscope.  

How is the snow different from the rain you see outside?

• snow is water in solid form

• snow is not water

• snow is water in liquid form

• snow is water in gas form 

Multiple Choice

A team of scientists in Lee County wanted to understand how rainfall affects the local toad population. To better understand this relationship, they conducted an investigation that showed that for every inch of rain Naples received in a month, the toad population decreases by 20%. Before other scientists trust these results, what needs to happen first?

• The original team of scientists needs to study how the rain affects other insects first.  

• Other scientists need to replicate the original investigation and get the same results.

• Other scientists need to determine how temperature affects mosquitos in Naples first

• The original team of scientists needs to double-check their math.