Book 4, Question 77
Why Do Clouds Look Fluffy?
A fluffy cloud is a crowd of tiny water drops or ice crystals floating together! From the ground, the crowd looks like cotton, because light bounces off all those drops. Each drop is so small it barely falls.
From the book
Page from A Million Whys Book 4
More fun facts
- The fluffy clouds that look like cotton balls or cauliflower are called cumulus clouds.
- Cumulus clouds have sharp, clear outlines.
- When water vapor turns into liquid drops, scientists call it condensation.
- The tiny drops form on bits of dust and other particles floating in the air.
- A cloud is a huge crowd of tiny water drops or ice crystals.
- Tall, stormy clouds called cumulonimbus are a sign that rain or hail may be coming.
- Winds inside a storm cloud can carry water drops up high, where they freeze.
Sources: NASA Space Place, NASA
Questions kids ask
What is a cloud made of?
A cloud is made of billions of tiny water drops or ice crystals floating in the air. Each drop formed around a speck of dust or other particle.