Which of the following statements is FALSE?
a) The first stage of a thunderstorm's development is the cumulus stage.
b) Warm air is less dense than cold air
c) The cumulus stage of a thunderstorm usually features heavy rains.
http://weathereye.kgan.com/expert/tstorms/stages.html
Looks like c) is the answer
thanks drwls
To determine which of the following statements is false, we can evaluate each statement individually:
a) The first stage of a thunderstorm's development is the cumulus stage.
To verify the accuracy of this statement, we need to understand the stages of thunderstorm development. Thunderstorms typically go through three stages: the cumulus stage, the mature stage, and the dissipating stage. During the cumulus stage, the warm air rises and begins to form cumulus clouds. So, statement a) is true.
b) Warm air is less dense than cold air.
To evaluate this statement, we need to consider the behavior of air molecules. In general, warm air expands and rises, while cold air contracts and sinks due to differences in density. Warm air is, therefore, less dense than cold air, making statement b) true.
c) The cumulus stage of a thunderstorm usually features heavy rains.
To verify this statement, we need to understand the characteristics of the cumulus stage. During the cumulus stage, a thunderstorm is still developing, and cumulus clouds are forming. While these clouds can bring the potential for rain, the cumulus stage itself is not typically associated with heavy or significant rainfall. The highest chance of heavy rain usually occurs during the mature stage, when the thunderstorm is fully developed. Hence, statement c) is false.
Therefore, statement c) is the false statement.