The Science of Snowflakes

What initiates the formation of a snowflake?

• A drop of rain

• A tiny particle or bit of floating dust

• A gust of wind

• A ray of sunlight

What shape do the molecules that make up water have?

• Four-sided

• Five-sided

• Six-sided

• Eight-sided

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What is a "facet" in the context of snowflakes?

• A round edge

• A flat face on a three-dimensional shape

• A pointed tip

• A curved surface

How many arms do snowflakes typically have?

• Four

• Five

• Six

• Eight

What determines the general shape of a snowflake crystal?

• The speed of the wind

• The temperature at which it forms

• The color of the sky

• The time of day

At what temperature do long, needle-like crystals form?

• 32 degrees Fahrenheit

• 23 degrees Fahrenheit

• 5 degrees Fahrenheit

• 0 degrees Fahrenheit

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Why are snowflakes symmetrical?

• Because they are made by humans

• Because they reflect the internal order of the crystal's water molecules

• Because they are cut by machines

• Because they are drawn by artists

Why is it astronomically unlikely to find two identical snowflakes?

• Because they are made of different materials

• Because they follow slightly different paths and encounter different conditions

• Because they are colored differently

• Because they are shaped by different winds

What happens when water vapor condenses on a snowflake's surface?

• It melts the snowflake

• It forms a new branch

• It changes the color of the snowflake

• It makes the snowflake disappear

What is the smallest part of any substance that still has the properties of that substance?

• An atom

• A molecule

• A cell

• A crystal

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