What Do You Know About Snowflake?

Color does not determine the shape of a snowflake. The shape of a snowflake is determined by temperature, humidity, and altitude. These factors affect the way water molecules freeze and crystallize, forming the intricate and unique patterns of a snowflake. Color, on the other hand, is determined by the presence of impurities or light reflection on the surface of the snowflake, but it does not play a role in shaping its structure.

Ice formation occurs when water reaches its freezing point, which is 0°C. At this temperature, the water molecules slow down and bond together, forming a solid structure. Temperatures below 0°C can also result in ice formation, but 0°C is the specific temperature at which water freezes.

The most common form of a snowflake is a hexagonal shape with six sides. Each side represents a fold in the snowflake, resulting in a total of six folds.

A typical snowflake is in a solid state. Snowflakes are formed when water vapor freezes in the atmosphere and crystallizes into ice. This process forms intricate and symmetrical patterns, creating the unique shapes of snowflakes. In their solid state, snowflakes are made up of tightly packed ice crystals, which give them their solid structure.

Wilson Bentley is the correct answer because he was a pioneer in the study of the crystalline structure of snow. He was a self-taught farmer and photographer who spent years photographing and studying snowflakes. Bentley was the first person to successfully capture detailed images of individual snowflakes, and his work contributed greatly to our understanding of their unique crystalline structures. His photographs were widely published and continue to be admired for their beauty and scientific significance.

Ukichiro Nakaya developed a crystal morphology structure of snow.

The answer is Miscellaneous snow crystal because it is the only option that does not specify a specific shape. The other options, Plate snow crystal, Rimed snow crystal, and Columnar snow crystal, all describe specific shapes of snow crystals. Therefore, the only option that could potentially have 12 branches is the Miscellaneous snow crystal.

A grapelike snow crystal refers to a rimmed crystal. Rimmed crystals are formed when a snowflake grows into a small plate-like shape and then has additional ice crystals grow along the edges, giving it a rimmed appearance. This type of crystal resembles a cluster of grapes, hence the term "grapelike."

At 28°F, the formation of threefold ice symmetry becomes possible. This is because at this temperature, water molecules arrange themselves in a hexagonal lattice structure, forming a stable and symmetrical three-dimensional ice crystal. At lower temperatures, such as 19°F, 16°F, and 10°F, the water molecules are not able to arrange themselves in this specific hexagonal lattice structure, preventing the formation of threefold ice symmetry.

Magono and Lee have categorized snow crystals into eight different categories.