Let it snow P3s
December 11, 2014 6:28 AM Subscribe
All snowflakes are special, but they are classified into just 8 general, 29 intermediate and 121 elementary categories.
How do all the sides of a symmetrical snowflake end up growing exactly the same?
posted by clawsoon at 7:42 AM on December 11, 2014
posted by clawsoon at 7:42 AM on December 11, 2014
How do all the sides of a symmetrical snowflake end up growing exactly the same?
Spukhafte Fernwirkung
posted by Bruce H. at 7:50 AM on December 11, 2014
Spukhafte Fernwirkung
posted by Bruce H. at 7:50 AM on December 11, 2014
The environment around a snowflake is rapidly changing in terms of temperature, humidity and pressure, but at any particular instant it's the same everywhere on the snowflake so each instant of crystal growth is symmetric. Changes over time account for the variation between snowflakes.
At least, that's how I understand it. IANASP.
posted by Devonian at 7:56 AM on December 11, 2014
At least, that's how I understand it. IANASP.
posted by Devonian at 7:56 AM on December 11, 2014
Yeah, that's the answer hinted at by this paragraph:
Back to snow crystals: the shapes they form are very dependent on temperature and humidity. This diagram illustrates this fact: simpler shapes are more common at low humidities, whilst more complex varieties of crystal are formed at high humidities. We still don’t know the precise variables behind the formation of particular shapes, although researchers are continually working on theoretical equations to predict snowflake shapes.
posted by vibratory manner of working at 7:57 AM on December 11, 2014
Back to snow crystals: the shapes they form are very dependent on temperature and humidity. This diagram illustrates this fact: simpler shapes are more common at low humidities, whilst more complex varieties of crystal are formed at high humidities. We still don’t know the precise variables behind the formation of particular shapes, although researchers are continually working on theoretical equations to predict snowflake shapes.
posted by vibratory manner of working at 7:57 AM on December 11, 2014
Special snowflake details inside.
Oh wait, this isn't the Green.
posted by theartandsound at 1:57 PM on December 11, 2014 [2 favorites]
Oh wait, this isn't the Green.
posted by theartandsound at 1:57 PM on December 11, 2014 [2 favorites]
Devonian:
You are not a...
...Snow Plow?
...Scottish Pebble?
...Soggy Platypus?
...Slippery Pickle?
...Satanic Priest?
...Swiss Plumber?
...Salted Penguin?
posted by Hairy Lobster at 6:52 PM on December 11, 2014
"IANASP"*scratches head*
You are not a...
...Snow Plow?
...Scottish Pebble?
...Soggy Platypus?
...Slippery Pickle?
...Satanic Priest?
...Swiss Plumber?
...Salted Penguin?
posted by Hairy Lobster at 6:52 PM on December 11, 2014
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posted by clawsoon at 7:37 AM on December 11, 2014 [2 favorites]