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(Factors Affecting the Break Up of Raindrops)

Bungar, Jeffrey Clement C.1, Flores, Noel Paulo N.2, Garrido, Aubrey Z.3, Liu, Gerardyne Anne M.4,
Marasigan, Mary Katrina R.5, Ong, Patrick Ron B.6, Saray, Jose Ramon G.7
1
BS Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences, UP Los Baos
2
BS Electrical Engineering, College of Engineering and Agro-Industrial Technology, UP Los Baos
3
BS Electrical Engineering, College of Engineering and Agro-Industrial Technology, UP Los Baos
4
BS Applied Physics, Institute of Mathematical Sciences and Physics, College of Arts and Sciences, UPLB
5
BS Electrical Engineering, College of Engineering and Agro-Industrial Technology, UP Los Baos
6
BS Civil Engineering, College of Engineering and Agro-Industrial Technology, UP Los Baos
7
BS Electrical Engineering, College of Engineering and Agro-Industrial Technology, UP Los Baos

Abstract
This research paper aims to discuss the phenomena of raindrop break up and the
factors causing this occurrence. In a long time exposed photograph, taken during a
rainy night, the tracks of drops appear broken. Based on the researches obtained, the
major factor causing the breakup of raindrops are its propertiescoalescence, and its
naturethat a raindrop has a specific maximum weight that it can hold and breaks
apart after reaching that amount, which makes it appear broken.

1. Introduction
Water plays a vital role in all forms of life on Earth, and rain contributes to the water cycle which is
responsible for maintaining its availability. Rain, as we see, is not just a simple phenomenon that we observe every
time it falls but a complicated occurrence that needs to be studied further. The rain has properties comparable to the
water coming from the faucet; they only differ due to the outside forces acting upon the rain as it reaches the surface
of the Earth. Knowledge about the processes of rain provides further understanding of its properties: motion and
composition. These informations will allow us to dig deeper and look closely to the different interactions that
happens within the rain itself.
As condensation of water vapor takes place, cloud droplets are formed, and later turn into raindrops which
comprises the rain itself. Rain doesnt fall in a uniform motion and sometimes, raindrops appear to be broken or
irregular due to its properties and other factors affecting its motion. Raindrops differ from their radius sizes, surface
tension, rate of collision and coalescence that will further describe the motion of the raindrops as it falls from the sky
to the surface of the Earth. As it falls, raindrops are subject to different forces such as the wind and gravity that
contributes to the overall motion of the raindrop. Thus, these factors are the ones responsible for the observed break
up of raindrops.

2. Figures, Tables and References

Water vapor in the air condenses and liquid droplets are formed. These liquid droplets are significantly
small that it remains in the air. The occurrence of air turbulence causes the movement of these air droplets to collide
with one another to form permanent bonds or droplets of smaller fragments. As more collisions occur, some drops
grow in size and become heavy enough that the acceleration due to gravity exceeds the momentum available from
the air motion that produces rain.

Factors Affecting the Break Up of Raindrops

University of the Philippines Los Baos
November 2014

Figure 2.1 shows the shattering of a raindrop as it falls in air. The drop flattens into a flat ellipse until a
heavy rim is visible and the inner part becomes thinner. It later forms into bag-like shape and then bursts out into
smaller drops. This phenomenon is described as bag-breakup.

Figure 2.1 Stages of Break Up of Droplet of Water

Diameter of droplet: 2.2mm; Velocity of air: 24m/s
(Image from journals.ametsoc.org)

When raindrops bump to each other as they fall, its called a collision. However, if they collide and stick
together, the idea of coalescencethe process by which two or more droplets, bubbles or particles merge during
contact to form a single daughter droplet, bubble or particle, is exhibited. As it falls, it accumulates to form droplets.
The growing droplet can be called a raindrop as soon as it reaches the size of 0.5mm in diameter, or even bigger. If it
gets any larger than 4mm, it will start to split into two separate drops. The entire process will be iterated as it falls, as
shown in figure 2.2 and table 2.1 (http://www.agu.org/books/gm/v191/2009GM000928/2009 GM000928.pdf).

Figure 2.2 Collision-Coalescence Phenomenon

(Image from www.physics.byu.edu)
Table 2.1 Effect of Increasing the Diameter of Raindrops to its Tendency to Break Up

Factors Affecting the Break Up of Raindrops

University of the Philippines Los Baos
November 2014

Figure 2.3 Comparison of Gaps and Direction of Motion of Raindrops in Different Frames
Table 2.2 Qualitative Descriptions of Gaps and Direction of Motion of Raindrops in Different Frames
Gaps
Direction
Frame 1
The gaps between raindrops are
slightly inclined
significantly long
Frame 2
The gaps between raindrops are
vertical
significantly long
Frame 3
The gaps between raindrops are
slightly inclined
significantly long
* long 10 cm to 15 cm

3. Results, Discussions, and Conclusion

Based from the data gathered, the gaps of raindrops and the perpendicularity of its motion to the surface of
the earth are enough evidences to support the claim that the raindrops motion is broken.
Based on the researchers gathered information, the following factors that affect the break up of raindrop
are stated below:
1.
Size and Weight
As water vapor rises, it cools to form a fine mist of water droplets about one micrometer in
diameter. These droplets grow in size until they are heavy enough, with size of at least 50-100
micrometers, thus rain (The Physics arXiv Blog, 2013). This growth takes 15-20 minutes
dependent with the temperature and pressure of the surrounding environment.
2.
Condensation-coalescence bottle-neck in rain formation phenomenon
This phenomenon explains the tangling clustering instability of small droplets in temperaturestratified turbulence which results in the formation of droplet clusters of with drastically increased
droplet number densities (T. Elperin, et.al., 11 Dec 2013).
3.
Surface Tension and Pressure
The surface tension forces are responsible for the sheathe bag into droplets. If the drop is falling
independently but is influenced by the pressure forces of other drops, wind gusts, etc. the breakup
may be disturbed, but the process seems to be essentially the same. (O'Brien, 1961)
Factors Affecting the Break Up of Raindrops
University of the Philippines Los Baos
November 2014

Based on the study conducted by the researchers, it can be deduced that rain appears to be broken because of
certain process associated in the rain droplets, as to how it was formed, and how it falls to the earth. Before the rain
droplets reach the surface of the earth, it encounters turbulence and collision which causes the breakup of the
raindrops, which can be observed by the naked eye.

4. Recommendations
The researchers recommend to the future researchers to study:
1. The positive and negative effects when the rain is not broken as it reach the surface of the earth;
2. If the factors affecting the rain break up also affects the manner how other types of precipitation occur,
and;
3. The differences between artificial rain (cloud seeding) and natural rain in terms of the manner how the
rain fall.

References
Cloud
Physics.
(n.d.).
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Meteorology:

Oblack, R. (n.d.). The Shape of Raindrops. Retrieved November 7, 2014, from About: http://weather.about.com/od/
cloudsandprecipitation/a/rainburgers.htm
O'Brien, V. (1961, August). Why Raindrops Break Up--Vortex Instability. Retrieved November 7, 2014, from
Ametsoc: journals.ametsoc.org
Salmi, A. (2008). How does the rain fall. Retrieved
http://www.vaisala.com/Vaisala%20Documents/Vaisala%20News
%20Articles/VN176/vn176_How_does_the_rain_fall.pdf

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2014,

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Vaisala:

The Physics arXiv Blog. (2013, December 18). Meteorologists Solve the Last Great Mystery of Rain. Retrieved
November 9, 2014, from Medium: https://medium.com/the-physics-arxiv-blog/meteorologists-solve-the-last- greatmystery-of-rain-d6c31c054e87
Wikipedia. (2014, August 24). Coalescence (physics). Retrieved November 9, 2014, from Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coalescence_(physics)
Wikipedia. (2014, October 1). Drop
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drop_(liquid)

(liquid).

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Factors Affecting the Break Up of Raindrops

University of the Philippines Los Baos
November 2014

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