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A cloud is a floating mass of water droplets or ice crystals in the atmosphere. When water condenses in the sky, it leads to the formation of clouds.
- Water vapors are always present in the sky, but they are invisible to humans.
- Clouds develop when a region of air cools to the point where the water vapor condenses to liquid.
- The air is considered to be saturated with water vapors at this point.
- The thickness and density decide the darkness of the cloud.
- Thicker clouds look darker, while thinner clouds appear white.
On the basis of height from the surface of the earth, clouds are classified as
- High-level clouds: They appear about 20000 feet above the earth’s surface.
- Mid-level clouds: These clouds appear between 6500 to 20000 feet from the earth’s surface.
- Low-level clouds: These clouds appear below 6500 feet from the surface of the earth.
Very Short Answers Questions [1 Mark Questions]
Ques. Clouds regulate the earth’s energy balance by absorbing infrared radiation and scattering solar radiation.
- True
- False
Ans. The correct answer is a. True
Explanation: Clouds are just condensed water vapor masses that show observable indicators of atmospheric processes in action. By collecting infrared radiation and dispersing solar radiation, they maintain the earth's energy balance.
Ques. Clouds help redistribute extra heat from
- Pole to the equator
- Pole to the pole
- The equator to the pole
- None of the above
Ans. The correct answer is c. The equator to the pole
Explanation: Clouds transport excess energy from the equator to the poles as well as returning water to the seas and landmasses.
Ques. In condensation, matter passes from its gaseous state into its liquid state.
- True
- False
Ans. The correct answer is a. True
Explanation: The colder water particles no longer have enough energy to overcome the forces of attraction between them. Condensation is the change of a gas into a liquid because they mix to create droplets of liquid water.
Ques. What caused the clouds to move?
Ans. The movement of clouds is caused by the local winds. Although the air surrounding us may be calm, winds hundreds of meters higher up are much stronger. That is why, even on seemingly windless days, clouds are usually in motion. However, the rotation of the Earth does influence some of the movements of clouds.
Ques. Why do clouds turn grey before it rains?
Ans. Clouds turn grey before it rains because of their thickness. When a cloud absorbs more water droplets and ice crystals, it becomes thicker and denser. The thicker it becomes, the more light it reflects off, resulting in less light penetrating all the way through it.
Short Answers Questions [2 Marks Questions]
Ques. What are clouds?
Ans. A cloud is a floating mass of water droplets or ice crystals in the atmosphere. When water condenses in the sky, clouds form. Condensation allows us to perceive water vapor.
Ques. What are the three conditions that are needed in cloud formation?
Ans. For the formation of a cloud, the following three primary conditions are needed
- Moisture
- Condensation
- Temperature
Ques. How would you describe the atmosphere?
Ans. The atmosphere is a composition of gases that surrounds our planet. The atmosphere provides the environment that allows life to exist on Earth. The gravitational attraction of the Earth keeps it close to the planet's surface. Air pressure is measured using a barometer.
Ques. What is Infrared Radiation?
Ans. Infrared radiation (IR), is a type of electromagnetic radiation whose wavelength is less than that of visible light. It is also called infrared light. The wavelength of infrared radiation is ranging from 700 nanometers to 1 millimeter.
Also check:
| Important Concepts | ||
|---|---|---|
| Movement of Air | Air Composition Properties | Air Around Us |
Long Answers Questions [3 Marks Questions]
Ques. How are clouds classified based on their altitude?
Ans. On the basis of height from the surface of the earth, clouds are classified as
- High-level clouds: These clouds appear above 20000 feet from the earth’s surface and are composed of ice crystals. They appear thin, streaky, and white. Cirrus, cirrostratus, and cirrocumulus are high-level clouds.
- Mid-level clouds: These clouds appear between 6500 to 20000 feet from the earth’s surface and are composed of ice crystals, liquid water droplets, or a combination of both, including supercooled droplets. Altostratus and altocumulus are the main types of mid-level clouds.
- Low-level clouds: These clouds appear below 6500 feet from the surface of the earth and consist of liquid water droplets or even supercooled droplets. Stratus and cumulus are the two main types of low-level clouds.
Ques. Describe the process of cloud formation.
Ans. A cloud is a floating mass of ice crystals or water droplets in the atmosphere.
- When water condenses in the sky, it forms a cloud.
- Water vapors, which are invisible to humans, are continually present in the sky.
- Clouds occur when a region of air becomes colder and the water vapor condenses to liquid form.
- As a result, the air becomes saturated with water vapors.
Ques. What are the different states in which water is found during the water cycle?
Ans. There are three different states of water that can be seen during the water cycle. These states are
- Gaseous state: These are the form of water vapor that evaporates from the surface water.
- Liquid state: It is created by the condensation of water vapor and is visible as rain.
- Solid state: (It is caused by the freezing of liquid droplets in the high atmosphere, which can be observed as snow, hail, or sleet.
Very Long Answers Questions [5 Marks Questions]
Ques. What holds clouds up, and why are some fluffy on top but flat on the bottom?
Ans. Clouds are composed of small liquid water droplets and ice shards in different shapes.
- The small cloud liquid water droplets are known as supercooled water droplets when they stay liquid at temperatures as low as - 10°C (14° Fahrenheit).
- These tiny droplets experience a gravitational force in the downward direction.
- However, since the droplets are so small and light, the gravitational pull is balanced by an upward friction force created by the droplets' contact with the air molecules around them.
- The tiny droplets remain suspended, which keeps clouds in the air.
Convection occurs when buoyant air parcels within the cloud ascend to the top, causing clouds to seem fluffy from the top. During the ascending process, the air encounters decreasing pressures, causing it to expand and cool. When these droplets grow in size, their mass increases and the gravitational pull finally overcomes the friction force, causing the bigger droplets to fall to the surface.
Ques. Why do clouds get too dark?
Ans. The thickness and density decide the darkness of the cloud.
- Clouds consist of tiny water droplets.
- The sunlight passes through a cloud and reflects uniformly off all of the droplets.
- When this light comes to our eye it gives the cloud a white appearance.
- When clouds become thicker, they form vertically, as in cumulonimbus clouds.
- As a result, less light can enter through.
- As a result, the bottoms of clouds look darker than the tops.
- That is why clouds look darker.
Ques. Why are clouds important?
Ans. Clouds are important because of the following reasons
- They are essential to the water cycle because they contribute to precipitation by releasing rain, snow, and other types of moisture back to the surface of the earth.
- Clouds reflect the radiation coming from the sun and trap the heat emitted from the surface of the earth.
- Cloud patterns are studied by meteorologists to predict weather conditions.
- Clouds help redistribute extra heat from the equator to the pole.
- They maintain the earth's energy balance by collecting infrared radiation and dispersing solar radiation.
- Clouds support agriculture and provide the necessary precipitation for the growth of crops.
- Clouds transport water vapor across long distances, transferring moisture all over the world.
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