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Book 7, Question 5 · Video

Why Does Fog Hug the Ground?

Video · 2:02 · Crafty Clover explains, from A Million Whys Book 7

Fog is simply a cloud that touches the ground. It forms when the air near the ground cools enough for invisible water vapor to turn into tiny droplets. That is why you can walk rig

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What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hey there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. Why does fog hug the ground?

The Big Idea

Fog is simply a cloud that touches the ground. It forms when the air near the ground cools enough for invisible water vapor to turn into tiny droplets. That is why you can walk right inside it.

Air Near the Ground Cools

Step one: the air near the ground cools. On a clear, calm night, the ground loses heat and cools the air that touches it. Cool air cannot hold as much invisible water vapor as warm air can.

Vapor Turns to Droplets

Step two: vapor turns into droplets. When the air cools to a point called the dew point, the extra vapor condenses into liquid. Billions of tiny water droplets start to float in the air, right where you are.

Fog Hugs the Ground

Step three: the fog settles in. Cool air is a bit heavier, and on a calm night there is little wind to stir it up. So the cloud stays low and hugs the ground, hiding hills and trees in a soft gray blanket.

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look at fog! A cool night chills the air near the ground. Tiny droplets form when the vapor condenses. And together they make a low cloud, which is exactly what fog is.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! Fog is the same thing as a cloud. A cloud is just fog that is up high. Fog droplets are so small that they hang in the air instead of falling. Streetlights and headlights can look like they have glowing halos in fog. If you are walking or biking in thick fog, stay with a grown-up and stay on safe paths.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! On the next foggy morning, look out of a window. Notice how streetlights make glowing halos. Draw what you can see far away, and what disappears. Stay close to a grown-up whenever you go outside.

Outro

Now you know that fog is just a cloud that came down to say hello. Science is amazing! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!

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