Why Do Icicles Hang From Roofs?

What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hey there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. Why do icicles hang from roofs?

The Big Idea

An icicle is meltwater that froze again on the way down! A warm patch of roof melts the snow. Then the drip hits cold air, and builds a hanging spike. Melt, drip, freeze.

Snow on the Roof

Step one: there is snow on the roof. A white blanket of snow sits high up on the roof. The sun, or warmth from the house, can heat a patch of it. That warm patch starts to melt.

Drip Reaches the Edge

Step two: the drip reaches the edge. Meltwater runs down the roof to the edge, where it slowly gathers into a hanging drop. Below the edge, the air is freezing cold.

Cold Air Freezes It

Step three: cold air freezes it, and more drops add on. The cold air freezes a little ice at the tip. Each new drop adds a bit more, and gravity pulls the water to the same point, so the spike grows longer and longer. That's a brand new icicle!

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look at an icicle! Roof snow is where it all starts. Meltwater runs down to the drip tip. And the hanging ice grows downward, drop by drop.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! Falling icicles can be sharp and heavy, so walk around them. Big roof icicles can mean ice dams. That's a grown-up house job. Don't snap icicles over a sidewalk for fun, if people walk there. Never stand under a row of roof spikes, and don't suck on dirty icicles.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! With a grown-up, find an icicle on a cold, sunny day. Is the roof warmer than the air under the drip? What two temperatures had to team up? Look from a safe spot, never right underneath.

Outro

Drip by drip, the cold builds a crystal spear! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!