Basic 3 · Science · Earth Science
Types of Precipitation
In this topic you will learn the types of precipitation and how they are different.
By the end of these notes you should be able to:
- Explain what precipitation is
- Name the types of precipitation
- Describe how rain forms
What you already know
- Changing state
Copy everything that has a blue line on its left into your notebook. The other parts are for reading.
- Strand
- Cycles
- Sub-strand
- Earth Science
- Indicator
- B3.2.1.3.1 – Identify the types of precipitation and describe the differences among them
Introduction
Water that falls from clouds to the ground is called precipitation. In Ghana, it is mostly rain, but sometimes hailstones fall in storms.
1. How Rain Forms
- The sun heats water in seas, rivers and lakes.
- The water evaporates into the air as water vapour.
- High up, the vapour cools and condenses into tiny drops.
- The drops form clouds.
- When the drops get big and heavy, they fall as rain.
2. Types of Precipitation
| Type | What it is |
|---|---|
| rain | drops of liquid water |
| drizzle | very small, light raindrops |
| hail | balls of ice that fall in storms |
| sleet | a mix of rain and ice |
| snow | soft ice flakes; it falls in cold countries |
3. Test: Making Condensation
Hold a cold metal lid over a bowl of warm water. Drops form under the lid and fall back, like rain.
New words
- precipitation
- Water falling from clouds.
- water vapour
- Water as a gas.
- hail
- Balls of ice that fall in storms.
- drizzle
- Light, fine rain.
Summary
- Precipitation is water falling from clouds.
- Rain forms by evaporation, condensation and falling drops.
- Types include rain, drizzle, hail, sleet and snow.
Class activity: Rain in a Bowl
- Hold a cold metal lid over a clear bowl of warm water.
- Watch drops form under the lid.
- Explain how this is like rain.
You need: Clear bowl of water, Metal lid, Locally made water-cycle picture chart
Exercises
Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.
1. Balls of ice that fall in storms are…
- A. Hail
- B. Drizzle
- C. Rain
- D. Mist
Show answer
Answer: HailHail is ice.2. What forms when water vapour cools high up?
- A. Clouds
- B. Rivers
- C. Sand
- D. Wind
Show answer
Answer: CloudsVapour condenses into drops.3. Drizzle is light, fine rain.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueIts drops are very small.4. Snow falls often in Ghana.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: FalseSnow falls in cold countries.5. Water falling from clouds is called ______.
Show answer
Answer: precipitationThat is precipitation.6. Name three types of precipitation.
Show answer
Answer: Any three: rain, drizzle, hail, sleet, snow.These fall from clouds.
Homework
- Notice the next rainfall. Was it heavy rain or drizzle?