This excellent question came from a second grader while learning about condensation in The Weather Program taught by Catch the Science Bug. He wanted to know if more and more water vapor molecules stuck to the water drop as it fell and if that is why the amount of rain falling can change from a drizzle to rain to a down pour.
Yes! After checking with the National Weather Service, water vapor can attach to raindrops as they fall and increase the size of the falling drop, thus increasing the amount of rain falling. The United States Geological Survey also informed us that raindrops can bump into each other and become one drop as they are falling as well. This process is called coalescence. Once a drop reaches 4 millimeters in size, it usually splits into two drops.
Additionally when a different cloud moves overhead, the amount of rain and the intensity of rain may also change. So this is another reason why, we can change from a drizzle to rain. Rain is usually from a cloud higher in our atmosphere and drizzle from a lower cloud.
In case you are wondering…..How do raindrops form? 
Raindrops form when water vapor molecules bump into a dust particle in a cloud and condense around it becoming a droplet (smaller than a drop). Condense means that the water vapor (water in gas form) changes to water in liquid form around the dust particle. Wow- a good thing about dust! The size of the dust particle will affect the size of the droplet. A bigger particle of dusts results in a bigger droplet. The droplets must coalesce (bump and become one) with other droplets to become heavy enough to fall from the cloud.
Category: Weather
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In honor of the March 12, 1999 anniversary of the idea for Catch the Science Bug, we would like to share with you an interview between Rex Trailer, former host of Boomtown, and Kim Bent that was recorded on the very first day that Catch the Science Bug was broadcasted from PBS Rhode Island on November 13, 2006!
Since the beginning, we have met so many people that are huge Rex Trailer fans. From working with Rex, I can firmly attest that he lives up to everything you would want in a childhood hero! THANK YOU Rex! Your legacy of helping children will live on through Science Bug.
Thank you to everyone who helped Catch the Science Bug grow to where it is today! We could not have done it without all of you who have supported us in countless different ways- a big hug of appreciation is being sent to ALL of YOU!
Engineers and scientist are looking to nature when they need new ideas on how to make something or do something. This is called biomimicry! Biomimicry is the method that seeks a sustainable solutions by utilizing nature’s time tested forms, functions, and strategies. Take the Designs Inspried by Nature quiz to see if you can figure out what things were inspired by nature’s plants and animals!
Designs_Inspired_by_Nature_Quiz
One of the best environmental tips is to take good care of the things that you own. Bikes, clothing, electronics, sports equipment, and, games,- whatever you may have, all will last longer if you take good care of them. It will also keep your items looking their best, functioning properly, and might help to increase the resale value of the item.
Take care of things by:
- Storing properly
- Using in the intended manner
- Cleaning the items
- Keeping the object in the appropriate temperature and humidity
- Attending to routine maintenance
- Organize and keep like items together (This will prevent you from losing pieces of a game or buying something you already have but could not find.)
All of these tips can save you money. They also save the water, electricity, transportation, packaging costs and the disposal impact. Using less of all of these things emits less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and that’s a great thing when it comes to global warming!
Taking good care of your stuff helps preserve polar bear habitat!
Things do wear out and when they can no longer be fixed, try to recycle as much of the materials as possible even if this means taking the item apart. Look for a more energy efficient, environmentally friendly, or better quality product when replacing the item. These products may be a bit more expensive but if they can last longer than the cheaper ones. You will definitely get your money back and then some!
Category: Be GREEN
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At Wachusett Ski Mountain we held an engineering competition. Skiers and boarders in grades K-7 participated! Contestants were asked to design a model of gondola (for a lift) from paper and see how much weigh it could hold. Contestants were then challenged to re-design their gondola in order to have it hold more weight. We used marbles to add weight to the chairs. The only requirement was that they could not use more than one 8.5 x 11 inch sheet of construction paper. They were offered three different types of tape (clear, masking, and duck tape), Popsicle sticks, string, and aluminum foil.
First time builders:
First Place: Camryn: 144 marbles
Second Place: Tim and Jack: 137 marbles
When it came to engineering a better chair the second time:
First Place: Caleb was our master at holding the most weight: 812 marbles
Second Place: Nick was our innovator, being the first to venture on his own: (308 marbles).
Honorable Mention to: Brendon, Nico, Logan, Genevieve, JP, Owen, Andrew, Brady, Nora, and KiKi! Great job everyone!!!! For those of you, who took stuff home….we anxiously, await your results!
First watch our Science Bug Investigators’ Tower Building Competition!
Next choose the materials that you would like use to make your tower. If you are doing this with friends and making this into a competition to see who can build the tallest tower, everyone has to have the same exact materials. You can even compete against your self if you have a duplicate set of materials. Your goal would to be to try to build a taller tower than you did the first time.
Next decide if the amount of tape be limited or unlimited. If you limit the tape, you would give everyone only a certain amount, like 2 feet. If unlimited, give them the entire roll!
Third, decide if you are going to set a time limit. If you set a time limit you will need a timer. How much time will you give everyone? 5 minutes? 30 minutes?
Then it is up to your and your friends to be civil engineers and see who can build the tallest tower! Good luck. And please share your results with us on this blog. Tell us what materials you used and your tower heights.
Civil engineers also build among other things, dams and bridges. Can you make a bridge from paper strong enough to hold a golf ball? Make a waterproof dam out of clay? Or what can you think of for your next competition?
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and the United States Geological Survey got together to study water movement in the Blackstone River. Watch this video to learn how the team of scientists and engineers collect data on water movement. It’s a more colorful story than you might think! Special permission was granted to do this study so please do not attempt this on a stream or river near you.
Category: Rivers
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Ever wonder what it would be like to see dolphins in their natural environment? Well, if you head to the Florida Aquarium in Tampa, Florida you can sign-up to go on a tour of Tampa Bay and perhaps see the dolphins for yourself. On 95% of the bay tours dolphins are spotted. That is because approximately 500 bottle nose dolphins make Tampa Bay their home. The average water depth of Tampa Bayis about 12 feet which is a just a little deeper than a backyard in-ground pool. Yet these dolphins are able to survive and thrive in these waters despite that Tampa Bay is also home to one of the busiest seaports in the southern United States.
Category: Blog, Sea Life
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Dr. Jesse Lieberman had to overcome his physically challenge to complete medical school and become a doctor. Learn more about Dr. Jesse by viewing our interview with him at HERE. He is an inspiration!
I was lucky to get a chance to meet Winter, the star of Dolphin Tale, her friends, and Cammie, the Senior Marine Mammal Trainer at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium who takes care of them. Winter uses a prosthetic tail to move since hers was damaged and fell off after being tangled in a rope of a crab trap. The Clearwater Marine Aquarium helped Winter to heal and the engineers at Hanger Prosthetics continue to make her new prosthetic tails as she grows.
Not only is Winter’s story a remarkable story of perseverance, so is the story of the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. It took the aquarium founders 11 years to find the current site, remodel it (since it use to a wastewater treatment facility), and then be able to welcome animals and guests! If you get a chance, I highly recommend a visit.
Category: Sea Life
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