Question

on a cold day, you go outside after a rainstorm and find pellets of ice on the ground. the pellets are all around 3 millimeters in diameter. which type of precipitation are these pellets?
○ snow
× hail
○ sleet
○ freezing rain

Explanation:

To determine the correct precipitation type, we analyze each option:

• Snow: Consists of ice crystals or flakes, not small pellets. Eliminate.
• Hail: Forms in thunderstorms and is typically larger (often >5 mm) and more irregular. The pellets here are ~3 mm, so hail is less likely. Eliminate.
• Freezing Rain: Falls as liquid rain and freezes on contact, forming a glaze, not discrete pellets. Eliminate.
• Sleet: Consists of small, translucent ice pellets (usually 2–5 mm) formed when snow melts partially and refreezes before reaching the ground. This matches the description of 3 - mm ice pellets.

Answer:

B. sleet (Note: Assuming the options are labeled as A. snow, B. sleet, C. hail, D. freezing rain for clarity; the correct option is the one labeled "sleet".)