Scienceville
Let It Rain
Rain is water falling from the clouds. But what shape is a raindrop? And why does rain smell so lovely? Let's find out!
Did you know?
Raindrops are not shaped like tears! Small drops are round. Big drops get flat at the bottom, like a burger bun.
Mawsynram in Meghalaya is one of the wettest places on Earth. Its rain in one year can be about 12 metres deep!
Rain on dry soil has a lovely earthy smell. Scientists call this smell petrichor (PET-ri-kor).
Try this: Make a Rain Gauge
Do this with an adult
A rain gauge measures how much rain falls. Take a clear plastic jar with straight sides. Stick a paper strip on it. Mark centimetres on the strip with a ruler. With an adult, place the jar in an open spot outdoors. After each rainy day, check the water level and write it down. Then empty the jar. Which day had the most rain?
Go further: Rain in a Bottle
Kannauj, a town in Uttar Pradesh, is famous for perfumes called attar. One attar is called mitti, which means 'earth'. It smells like dry soil after the first rain! Workers heat baked clay pieces in water. The steam carries the clay's smell into sandalwood oil. They do this again and again for many days. Would you like a perfume that smells like rain?