Clouds Lesson

Which of the following best describes the relationship between condensation nuclei and clouds?

• One condensation nucleus expands to form a cloud.

• Many condensation nuclei cause clouds to disappear.

• Many condensation nuclei bunch together to form a cloud.

• One condensation nucleus heats air as it rises toward clouds.

The water droplets that form clouds are so tiny that they remain suspended in the atmosphere. As these droplets bump into each other, they can combine to form larger droplets. When these droplets get too heavy to stay airborne, they fall back to Earth as rain. Ice crystals behave the same way, but produce snow or sleet. The water falling back to Earth is called precipitation. Precipitation returns the evaporated water that formed the cloud back to Earth’s soil and bodies of water. This critical step in the water cycle would not happen without clouds. Which of the following best describes why precipitation falls to Earth?

• Water droplets or ice crystals heat up and become too warm to remain airborne.

• Water droplets or ice crystals combine and become too heavy to remain airborne.

• Water droplets or ice crystals are pushed out of clouds by wind in the atmosphere.

• Water droplets or ice crystals move around a cloud until they build up enough energy to escape.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

There are 10 different types of clouds. Clouds are categorized by their height in the atmosphere and their shape. There are high, middle and low clouds that fall into three shape categories: cirrus, stratus and cumulus. The terms cirrus, stratus and cumulus refer to both a category of clouds and a type of cloud. Other clouds get their name from a combination of shape category and words like nimbus and alto. Nimbus clouds are clouds that precipitate. Alto clouds are middle height clouds. Take cumulonimbus for example. This cloud name is a combination of cumulus and nimbus. From its name alone, we know it falls under the cumulus shape category and produces precipitation. Similarly, an altostratus cloud is a middle cloud that falls under the stratus shape category. Shape categories are also combined to name clouds, like stratocumulus, cirrostratus and cirrocumulus clouds. Which of the following clouds most likely produces precipitation?

• cirrus

• cirrostratus

• altocumulus

• nimbostratus

What are cirrus clouds most likely made of?

• rain

• ice crystals

• water droplets

• both water droplets and ice crystals

Which type of clouds are these? They are high level, thin, wispy clouds that usually accompany winds and signal the weather is going to be changing. 

• cumulus

• stratus

• cumulonimbus

• cirrus

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

Which of the following best describes the relationship between clouds and Earth’s climate?

• Clouds regulate Earth’s climate, keeping the planet cooler overall.

• According to meteorologists, clouds predict climate based on wind.

• According to scientists, clouds make climate change happen faster.

• Clouds are created by colliding air masses, resulting in rainy climates.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

There are three categories used to describe cloud shape: stratus, ________ and cirrus.

• nimbus

• nucleus

• cumulus

• cirrostratus

Which of the following best describes cumulus clouds?

• flat

• puffy

• wispy

• layered

True or False: Water is the key ingredient in cloud formation.

• True

• False

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

When water evaporates, it becomes

• ice crystals.

• water vapor.

• dust or smoke.

• water droplets.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

NGSS.MS-PS1-4