The Frost Science Museum is sharing a fun and safe holiday-themed science experiment to enjoy at home. Gather quick ingredients from your kitchen to create snow through the magic of science. But before you do...
Did you know snow is a form of precipitation that falls from clouds? But, snow only occurs when it is cold outside as the water needs to be frozen. In order for water to freeze, it needs to be at least 32 degrees Fahrenheit (0 degrees Celsius). This is the freezing point. At this temperature or colder, water will be in its solid-state, which we know as ice. When the frozen water molecules get too heavy, they will fall to the ground and continue to grow as they fall through the cloud creating snowflakes!
If it is cold enough all the way down for them to remain frozen, then you have snow! Did you also know that on average 1 inch of rain is equivalent to 13 inches of snow! Snow and ice coverage are very important for our climate system as a whole as they help balance the heat transport throughout the Earth.
Fun fact, it did snow in Miami on January 19, 1977!
So here's a really easy way to make your own snow. You can even build a snowman!
Materials:
- Baking soda (ideally frozen, but not required)
- Cold water
- Paper bowl
- Spoon
Procedure:
- Pour the baking soda into the paper bowl.
- Slowly mix in the cold water with the spoon.
- Once all water has been absorbed, enjoy your fake snow!
