petrushka.googol Posted October 16, 2014 Share Posted October 16, 2014 Why do raindrops take their typical pear shape? Please provide some insight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swansont Posted October 16, 2014 Share Posted October 16, 2014 They don't. http://weather.about.com/od/cloudsandprecipitation/a/rainburgers.htm http://pmm.nasa.gov/education/articles/shape-of-a-raindrop 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phi for All Posted October 16, 2014 Share Posted October 16, 2014 Teardrops are the imagery I've always heard, not pears. I think lots of folks associate rain with sadness and melancholy. Rain makes me happy, like the tasty brioche bun whose shape they share. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MigL Posted October 16, 2014 Share Posted October 16, 2014 I always thought they were 'molded' in that shape by the streamlines of the medium they are falling through. But if they're not 'teardrop' shape, I guess I'm wrong. ( Don't tell me actual teardrops aren't that shape either ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phi for All Posted October 16, 2014 Share Posted October 16, 2014 ( Don't tell me actual teardrops aren't that shape either ) I think they're only that shape just before they fall off an eyelash. They round out when falling. I'm sure they'd assume true raindrop shape if they fell far enough. I hope this isn't off-topic for the discussion, since this is more about what happens when water hits rather than when it's falling, but I found this very interesting: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strange Posted October 16, 2014 Share Posted October 16, 2014 Maybe we think they are that shape from watching them run down windows... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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