Icy: How Do Icicles Form? (page 2)

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Unfold the paper and you have a six-sided snowflake. This flake can be hung with thread. Make snowflakes of different sizes by changing the size of the original circle. Use the paper snowflakes as part of your project display.

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   1. Wind plays an important role in the melting of snow, ice, and icicles. Demonstrate this by placing two ice cubes of equal size in separate saucers. Place one saucer near a fan set on medium speed, and place the second saucer away from any air movement. Observe the ice cubes to determine which melts faster.
   2. Determine the effect of wind speed on the melting of ice by repeating the previous experiment twice, first setting the fan on low speed, then setting the fan on high speed. Record and compare the melting time of the ice cubes at each wind speed. Prepare a bar graph to display the results.
2. The six-sided shape of snowflakes is due to the six-sided organization that water molecules assume when they freeze. Make a paper snowflake by drawing a circle on a sheet of plain white paper. Cut out the circle and fold it in half. Fold the half in thirds, like slices of pie, then fold the wedge in half. Cut a small piece out of one curved corner, then cut notches in all the edges, as shown.

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Snow and ice are forms of frozen precipitation. Find out about other winter precipitation and frozen ice forms produced at frigid temperatures. What is sleet? Is sleet a universal name? What is freezing rain? How do graupel and ice pellets form? What is the difference between rime and glaze?

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Janice VanCleave's Weather
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