Have you ever wondered what shape a raindrop is or why a drop of water forms a sphere?
Water droplets are spheres because surface tension pulls the molecules into the smallest possible area to give the lowest ratio of surface area to volume. This shape is a sphere.
![Water dripping from a tap, showing a spherical water droplet](https://www.science-sparks.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Tao-water-dropping-1024x1024.jpg)
What shape is a raindrop?
A falling raindrop forms a slightly different shape as drag and air resistance exert pressure on the falling droplet. As the raindrop falls it forms a burger bun type shape with the flat base on the underside. Very different to the image people usually have of a raindrop falling.
Falling raindrops tend to bump into each other and join together. Once they reach a certain size they break apart.
![Image of a umbrella covered in rain](https://www.science-sparks.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/What-shape-is-a-raindrop-Pin-683x1024.jpg)
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Last Updated on May 5, 2021 by Emma Vanstone
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