Chapter 7Lesson 4

How do clouds form?

Clouds are made of:

• Water vapor• Ice crystals• b/c of temp. & air pressure

Activity- How many drops of water can a cloud hold?

I predict that the cotton ball will hold _____ drops of water before it overflows.

Result: The cotton ball held ___ drops before it overflowed.

Make a cloud demonstration• Demonstrate cloud formation with a large,

wide-mouthed jar, a match, a cup of water, a rubber band, and a plastic bag.

• Pour the water into the jar. • Drop a lit match into the jar, then quickly

cover it with the plastic bag. • Secure the bag on the lid with a rubber band. • Push the bag into the jar, and pull it out

again. A cloud will form. • Ask: How did the match help form a

cloud? Why do you need to secure the plastic bag onto the jar?

Clouds and Drizzle [02:37]

Types of cloudsCloud Where it forms Description

cirrus > 6,000m above ground

High altitude, thin, wispy & white

thunderhead

(cumulinimbus)

Base-1,000m above ground

Top-12,000m above ground

Vertical-cause thunderstorms

cumulus Base-2,000 -7,000 m

Mid-altitude

puffy

stratus <2,000m above ground

Low altitude

Dark, cover sky

fog Ground level Forms b/c air cools

Types of Clouds [02:34]

Types of clouds-YouTube

NASA: Our World: Cool Clouds

Types of Clouds-

Types of precipitationForm of

precipitationHow it forms

rainfreezing rainsleetsnowhail

hail

Precipitation [02:21]