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Like anything else with mass, the snowflakes and raindrops that form in clouds are attracted by the force of gravity. The earth, being the largest mass in the vicinity, overpowers the gravitational attraction of all other masses. Snowflakes and raindrops fall downwards because this net downward gravitational force also overcomes the upward forces of the air between the clouds and the earth's surface.

Note that the smaller water droplets and ice crystals that make up the clouds also have mass and are attracted by the earth's gravity. However they do not fall downwards because the upward force of the currents of air below balances the downward gravitational force.

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15y ago
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6mo ago

Snow and rain fall downwards due to the force of gravity acting on the particles. The weight of the particles exceeds any upward forces they may have, causing them to move towards the ground. Additionally, air resistance and atmospheric conditions play a role in determining the speed and direction of their fall.

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14y ago

Because it comes from the sky not the ground

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13y ago

The cold temperatures freeze the water into crystals and they fall.

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Q: Why does snow and rain fall downwards?
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Continue Learning about Physics

When the rain falls which way will it fall if there is no wind?

Rain will fall vertically downwards in the absence of wind. The force of gravity will pull the raindrops straight down towards the ground.


Is the rain and snow condensation?

Rain and snow are not forms of condensation. Rain is liquid water that falls from clouds, while snow is ice crystals that form in clouds and fall to the ground. Condensation is the process where water vapor in the air turns into liquid water on a surface due to cooling.


What is rain sleet or snow that has lots of acids in it called?

Acid rain is rain, sleet, or snow that has a higher level of acidity due to pollutants like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. These pollutants can react with water vapor in the atmosphere to form sulfuric acid and nitric acid, which then fall back to the ground during precipitation.


Why does rain drops but snow fall?

Raindrops form when water vapor in the atmosphere condenses into liquid droplets due to cooling, typically occurring in warmer temperatures. Snow forms when water vapor condenses and freezes into ice crystals in colder temperatures. The different states of precipitation (liquid rain versus solid snow) are a result of the temperature at which the water droplets or ice crystals form and fall from the sky.


What is the reason for rain drops to fall with a constant speed by the time they reach earth?

Raindrops fall with a constant speed due to the balance between gravity pulling them downwards and air resistance pushing back. This equilibrium results in a steady descent speed for raindrops as they fall towards the Earth.

Related questions

Does the rain fall downwards?

yes, which is why you see if falling to the ground (below you) from the sky (above you)


A light fall of rain or snow?

smattering


When the rain falls which way will it fall if there is no wind?

Rain will fall vertically downwards in the absence of wind. The force of gravity will pull the raindrops straight down towards the ground.


What is the other name of rain or snow?

SNOW OR ICE


How do droplets become heavy enough so that the droplets fall as rain or snow?

how do droplets become heavy enogh so that the droplets fall as rain and snow


What does downfall mean?

a sudden fall of rain or snow


How are snow and rain fall are alike?

They are both types of precipitation.


How can presipitation fall as?

Precipitation is;- Rain Sleet Snow Hail


What does the sentence the heavy droplets fall to the earth as rain or snow or sleet?

The sentence describes how precipitation occurs, in the form of rain, snow, or sleet, when heavy droplets fall from clouds to the Earth.


What determines whether precipitation falls a rain or snow?

The temperature of the air near the ground is the main factor in determining whether precipitation falls as rain or snow. If the temperature is above freezing, the precipitation will fall as rain. If the temperature is below freezing, the precipitation will fall as snow.


Rain and snow are called?

a combination of rain and snow together is called "snaine"


Could water falling as rain fall again in the future as snow?

When the water from the iceberg is evaporated by the sun it rises into the clouds and will fall as rain.