Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology => Topic started by: Francis Tapon on 14/11/2010 18:30:03

Title: Could there be a planet where it rains enormous raindrops?
Post by: Francis Tapon on 14/11/2010 18:30:03

Francis Tapon  asked the Naked Scientists:
   
Could there be a planet where it rains so hard that it feels like drops of water the size of cats and dogs could fall from the sky?

If so, what gravity and conditions would need to exist?

The purpose of this question is to make you guys in rainy England feel better about your crappy weather. ;)

Greetings from Slovenia!

What do you think?

Title: Could there be a planet where it rains enormous raindrops?
Post by: chris on 14/11/2010 21:11:51

In the early years of our own Earth the raindrops would have been much larger than they are today, scientists have suggested. This is because there were very fewer particulates in the atmosphere to act as condensation nuclei and hence droplets - and clouds - were both relatively huge, but individually not very numerous.

But once particulates increased, more numerous - and smaller - droplets formed.

Chris

Title: Could there be a planet where it rains enormous raindrops?
Post by: lightarrow on 14/11/2010 23:08:24

Anyway drops' dimensions cannot be larger than a certain limit because as soon as the max weight is reached, they start to fall down. So to have bigger drops we should have less gravity or a denser atmosphere (to keep the drops up agains its weight by Archimede's force).

Title: Could there be a planet where it rains enormous raindrops?
Post by: RD on 15/11/2010 00:54:41

Quote from: Francis Tapon  on 14/11/2010 18:30:03

... drops of water the size of cats and dogs ...

Will head-sized do ? ...

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