SCIENCE LESSON: Why Do Snowflakes Have Six Points?

Christopher Fennell explains why snowflakes have six points...

[elmdale]

It's a shame I didn't have your video and your magnetic water molecule models when I taught science. I taught elementary science for 30 years and drew my version on the chalkboards, not as interesting. My grandchildren will greatly benefit from this. Thank you.

[hugopristauz]

plenty of my questions now answered - thanks

[xoxo]

Whole segment of earth science that I failed broken down for an ADHD member in 10 minutes. Thx!!

[theresebizabishaka]

Thank you. Great visual representation.

[gretchengubbrud]

Will you sell the models you're using to build the snowflakes? They are great and I'd love to buy a set. Thanks for the nice video.

[GaryHB]

Very nice video. Prof. Fennell, I have a question that I have been unable to find discussed anywhere (yet): As water molecules adhere to the six branches, how is it that they are symmetric? I don't suppose there is any 'communication' among the branches in that they cooperatively find a lowest common energy state as water molecules are added, so each new layer would form identically for that reason. I would presume instead that the 'epitaxy' of the water molecules is random. If so, then the branches would not be identical. Perhaps the core is random but then the growth is so highly ordered that each branch naturally is identical to all the others. That seems to be improbable to me. That would depend on the heat of vaporization and kT (a Boltzmann factor of roughly exp(-20)?). Maybe that IS the answer. Can you help me to understand this? Thanks. In the meantime, I will continue watching snowflake videos.

[goldendino]

Do all snowflakes have 6 molecules at the start?

[rb]

it explaines why they have 6 points but it doesn't explains why !

[thehoss]

Snowflakes are six sided because they are created from the 4th phase of water called EZ-water.

[jasonbowman]

I'm the type of snowflake that cries if you think differently then I do and I melt under the light of truth. j.k. lol.