• Question: Why does it rain?

    Asked by charleyolivia to Mark on 16 Jun 2011.
    • Photo: Mark Burnley

      Mark Burnley answered on 16 Jun 2011:

      The sun heats the atmosphere, causing water on the surface to evaporate. This water then condenses and forms clouds. When so much water has condensed gravity cannot hold it up any more and it falls back to the ground as rain. If it is very cold it will fall as ice (as hail or snow). This can even happen in the summer if the clouds have formed quickly and are send very high.

Comments

  • Photo: Helen

    Helen commented on :

    I don’t really know the science. but i wish it wouldnt – it JUNE!!!
    Saying that, I do prefer to go for a run in the rain rather than the sun.

  • Photo: Jenni

    Jenni commented on :

    Because water from lakes, seas, rivers etc slowly evapourates into the sky where it gathers in nasty rain clouds, ready to fall on the earth just after I’ve put my washing out of got on my bike 🙂

    here’s a question for you… if water evapourates as steam at 100 degrees C, how does water evapourate from a puddle when room temperature is about 20 degrees C?