The long-running series in which readers answer other readers’ questions on subjects ranging from trivial flights of fancy to profound scientific and philosophical concepts
You might think that frost is frozen water. It starts as dew then gets cold and turns to ice. This happens, but doesn’t cause the pretty stuff. Frost happens when individual molecules of water vapour are deposited directly on to a slightly cooler object.
It so happens that water molecules are bent in the middle by 104.5 degrees. This is very close to the angle at the centre of a tetrahedron , so they naturally form 3D structures, but with an occasional “kink” due to the maths being not quite right.Hoar frost is a type of feathery frost. The word “hoar” comes from Old English and refers to the old age appearance of the frost: the way the ice crystals form makes it look like white hair or a beard.
Simply put, it’s like a dusting of icing sugar on a cake. Just elevates everything and gives definition and structure. Also makes the colour of everything muted, which I guess is easier on the eye, so more pleasant to look at for longer? Or perhaps because it reflects light, which makes everything sparkle.Appreciate it while it lasts. There are stories aplenty about harsh frosts in yesteryear where I live, but in the nearly nine years I have lived here we have only had one mild frost.
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