Snowball Shape Debate: Circle vs Sphere

[Asian Girl]

What is the shape of snowball? i thought it's circle but my friend said it's a sphere.

 

[Defennder]

What? Odd question, I'd say. See here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snowball

 

[rootX]

See https://www.physicsforums.com/forumdisplay.php?f=14"

 

[tiny-tim]

What is the shape of snowball? i thought it's circle but my friend said it's a sphere.

Hi Asian Girl!

I think you mean snowflake.

If so, I agree with you:

Large, well formed snowflakes are relatively flat and have six approximately identical arms …

For more details, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snow#Snowflakes".

 

[Defennder]

Why would a snowflake be shaped like a sphere?

 

[tiny-tim]

Why would a snowflake be shaped like a sphere?

You'll have to ask Asian Girl's friend!

… you're trying to get an introduction, aren't you … ? ​

 

[HallsofIvy]

You'll have to ask Asian Girl's friend!

… you're trying to get an introduction, aren't you … ? ​

My question (and, I suspect, Defennder's, except for a typo) would be "Why would a snowflake be shaped like a circle". All snowflakes are more like 6 pointed stars.

I don't know what language Asian Girl speaks but it might be a translation problem. A circles is "flat"- two dimensional- in a plane. A sphere is 3 dimensional.


(Very strictly speaking, a snowball is a "ball"- a "sphere" is the surface of a ball.)

 

[tiny-tim]

All snowflakes are more like 6 pointed stars.

But a 6 pointed star is like a circle …

… especially when it's spinning beautifully! :!)