(Layman Science Series) Week 1 - Why are mountain tops icy?

[crosswire]

Intro
I am trying to post a science/physics question of varying difficulty each week for this year.

The Rules are:
Answers must be complete, and each statement must be sound/logical.
The better the answer, then the more points awarded. Answers can always be updated at anytime as we learn something new everyday.
The greater the difficulty, the greater the points. I will give an answer at end of week. Repeating my answer awards no points, you will have to come with a better or alternate answer.

Question
Why are mountain tops icy?

Difficulty
A-Level Physics and A-Level Geography

Site share of the week
SmarterEveryDay - YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC61...4m0o2-emgoDnAA

[khat17]

Nice. Like the idea.

Q: Why are mountain tops icy?
A (short): Precipitation. Elevation. Temperature.

[BNOVA]

I like this Idea.

To add or expound on Khat's response...Air contains water vapour so as hot air rises it cools. As it cools water vapur condenses down to form water and then condenses further down to ice depending on Pressure, Temperature etc.

I am sure the full answer is more detailed and specific as we would have to look into the movement of energy and wind and Geography as this does not occur at all mountains.

Site share of the week
SmarterEveryDay - YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC61...4m0o2-emgoDnAA

I love this Channel

[crosswire]

@ Khat

Thanks but 0 marks.

Why Precipitation different?

How does Elevation affects?

Why is Temperature lower?

No marks for cyclic logic either, eg temperature implies precipitation, thus precipitation implies temperature. You are given Mountain tops are generally cool or icy compared to the valley right beside it on the same latitude line. Clue atmospheric physics. You may have come across some physic theory that you can apply here. Again Why?

[crosswire]

Air contains water vapour so as hot air rises it cools. As it cools water vapur condenses down to form water and then condenses further down to ice depending on Pressure, Temperature etc.

Almost there?

You are taught this in school "Air contains water vapour so as hot air rises it cools.", but why does it happen?

[khat17]

@ Khat

Thanks but 0 marks.

Again Why?

My purpose is to get others to think. Not gain marks.

Almost there?

You are taught this in school "Air contains water vapour so as hot air rises it cools.", but why does it happen?

I'm going to assume you're looking for convection currents here as an additive. But that's all I'll say.

To partially expand....partially.

Precipitation. Elevation. Temperature.

Precipitation - as a part of the water cycle.

Elevation - related to above will give snow in one location versus rain.

Temperature - related to above will add to the form of precipitation.

To add semantics - one could say that Blue Mountain isn't icy. But we know what you mean. I get that you want the detailed answer, but as I said - I'm not trying to answer. Just getting others to think.

[crosswire]

My purpose is to get others to think. Not gain marks.

As always

convection currents

Yet, 1 mark out of 4

To add semantics - one could say that Blue Mountain isn't icy. But we know what you mean. I get that you want the detailed answer, but as I said - I'm not trying to answer. Just getting others to think.

oooooo, my bad. I mean cool/cold/or icy relative to the valley beside it.

[khat17]

Yet, 1 mark out of 4

No. I only mentioned the concept. I didn't go into details. No marks. It's for others to take the idea and expand on it.

[crosswire]

No. I only mentioned the concept. I didn't go into details. No marks. It's for others to take the idea and expand on it.

Final clue: Think of a process that you know that "cools" and see how it relates.

Solution tomorrow

[khat17]

Final clue: Think a process that you know that "cools" and see how it relates.

Solution tomorrow

Trust me. Love the idea. It will help with discussions going. I'm actually surprised that it's just 3 of us participating.....

As long as you've got more discussion pieces then please keep it going. I'll be here to play Devil's Advocate.

And add "of" to your last post. Grammatical correction.