How Much Water is in a Cumulus Cloud?

In summary, water is stored in a cumulus cloud in the form of tiny water droplets and ice crystals that are suspended in the air. On average, a cumulus cloud can hold around 500,000 kilograms of water, but other types of clouds can hold more. The water in a cumulus cloud comes from water vapor that evaporates from the Earth's surface. The amount of water in a cumulus cloud can greatly affect the weather, with a significant amount leading to heavy precipitation and a smaller amount resulting in the cloud dissipating quickly without producing any precipitation.
  • #1
dhago07
12
0
One cubic centimeter of a cumulus contains 330 water drops, which have a typical radius of 10 μm. (a) How many cubic meters of water are in a cylindrical cumulus cloud of height 2.9 km and radius 1.0 km? (b) How many 1-liter pop bottles would that water fill? (c) Water has a density of 1000 kg/m3. How much mass does the water in the cloud have?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
To get help around here it's best to fill in this...


 
  • #3


I would like to address the content regarding the amount of water in a cumulus cloud. The provided information states that one cubic centimeter of a cumulus cloud contains 330 water drops, each with a radius of 10 μm. Using this information, we can calculate the volume of water in a cylindrical cumulus cloud with a height of 2.9 km and a radius of 1.0 km.

(a) To calculate the volume of water in the cloud, we can use the formula for the volume of a cylinder, which is V = πr^2h. Plugging in the values of 1.0 km for the radius and 2.9 km for the height, we get a volume of approximately 9.4 million cubic meters (m^3). This means that a cylindrical cumulus cloud with a height of 2.9 km and a radius of 1.0 km contains approximately 9.4 million cubic meters of water.

(b) To determine how many 1-liter pop bottles this amount of water would fill, we can divide the volume of the cloud by the volume of one 1-liter pop bottle, which is 0.001 m^3. This calculation results in approximately 9.4 billion 1-liter pop bottles. This demonstrates the vast amount of water that can be contained in a cumulus cloud.

(c) Finally, to calculate the mass of the water in the cloud, we can use the formula for density, which is mass divided by volume. The density of water is 1000 kg/m^3, so we can multiply the volume of water (9.4 million m^3) by the density to get a mass of approximately 9.4 billion kilograms. This is equivalent to 9.4 million metric tons of water.

In conclusion, a cylindrical cumulus cloud with a height of 2.9 km and a radius of 1.0 km can contain approximately 9.4 million cubic meters or 9.4 billion 1-liter pop bottles of water, with a mass of 9.4 billion kilograms or 9.4 million metric tons. This highlights the importance of understanding the amount of water in clouds, as it can greatly impact our weather and environment.
 

1. How is water stored in a cumulus cloud?

Water is stored in a cumulus cloud in the form of tiny water droplets and ice crystals, which are suspended in the air by updrafts. These droplets and crystals combine to form clouds and can eventually fall as precipitation.

2. How much water is typically found in a cumulus cloud?

The amount of water in a cumulus cloud can vary greatly, but on average, they can hold around 500,000 kilograms of water. This is equivalent to about 110,000 gallons or 1,100 bathtubs worth of water.

3. Can cumulus clouds hold more water than other types of clouds?

While cumulus clouds can hold a significant amount of water, they are not typically the type of cloud that holds the most water. Other types of clouds, such as cumulonimbus clouds, are known to hold more water and can produce larger amounts of precipitation.

4. Where does the water in a cumulus cloud come from?

The water in a cumulus cloud comes from water vapor that evaporates from the Earth's surface and rises into the atmosphere. As the warm moist air rises, it cools and condenses into tiny droplets or ice crystals, which then form a cumulus cloud.

5. How does the amount of water in a cumulus cloud affect weather?

The amount of water in a cumulus cloud can greatly affect weather conditions. If the cloud holds a significant amount of water, it can lead to heavy rainfall or snowfall. On the other hand, if the cloud doesn't contain much water, it may dissipate quickly without producing any precipitation.

Similar threads

  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
13
Views
3K
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
8
Views
11K
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
3
Views
3K
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
2
Views
3K
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
8
Views
2K
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
12
Views
3K
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
16
Views
1K
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
12
Views
2K
Back
Top