As you get swept into the magic of a first snowfall, did you know that there is a scientific method behind excellent snowman building?
We love that STEM researchers (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) have actually issued recommendations on best practices for snowman construction. What a great example of learning through play!
Here are top tips from the experts on how to make your snowman the envy of the block:
1. Use the right snow
Professor Roy Pruett, an Industrial Engineer at Bluefield State College in West Virginia say, “The snow has to be somewhere right around 30°F (-1 °C), where there’s just a little moisture in it. It can’t be too cold or not cold enough.”
Packing snow is ideal for snowman building. This is not slush or powder but a perfect, packable mix of the two.
2.Start with a Sound Foundation
You should begin your snowman by building on top of at least two inches of snow in level ground! Your foundation is the most important way to begin a perfect snowman.
3.Use the “Golden Snowman Ratio”
Your three spheres that comprise the snowman should roughly be 3:2:1 in size, with the largest sphere being on the bottom. An imbalance causes you to end up with the leaning snowman of Pisa!
Did you make a perfect snowman? Tweet us pics or post on our FB wall to share!
Sources: http://stemjobs.com/the-science-behind-building-the-perfect-snowman-3/; http://qz.com/153318/the-science-behind-the-art-of-building-a-snowman/