Raindrops Can Fall Faster Than a Speeding Car!

Raindrops might seem gentle, but they can fall faster than a speeding car! In a big storm, the largest raindrops—about the size of a housefly—can reach speeds of up to 50 miles per hour as they plummet to the ground. That’s faster than a car cruising at 40 mph in a school zone! The speed comes from their size and the pull of gravity, but air resistance keeps them from going even faster.

Here’s the science: raindrops start as tiny water droplets in clouds, growing bigger as they collide with other droplets. The biggest ones, around 5 millimeters wide, fall the fastest because they’re heavier, but they flatten into a pancake shape as they drop, which slows them down a bit. Smaller drops, like the ones in a drizzle, only fall at about 2 mph. If there were no air resistance—like on the moon—raindrops could hit 200 mph, but thankfully, our atmosphere keeps things in check.

This speed explains why big raindrops can sting when they hit you during a storm—it’s like getting pelted by tiny water bullets! But don’t worry, they’re still safe, just a little surprising. Next time you’re caught in a downpour, imagine those drops racing faster than your car—it’s a weird science fact that’ll make you see rain in a whole new way. Share this with your friends and come back for more on Factfizz!