We all draw raindrops as teardrops, but what shape does a falling raindrop actually take?

Question

AhaDaily · Accepted Answer

Round on top, flattened underneath, like a hamburger bun Air pressure flattens a falling raindrop's underside, so it looks like a hamburger bun rather than a teardrop. The USGS and NASA's GPM mission agree: raindrops under 1 mm in radius stay spherical from surface tension, but bigger ones flatten underneath into a hamburger-bun shape as they fall faster. Past about 4.5 mm they balloon into a parachute and shatter.

We all draw raindrops as teardrops, but what shape does a falling raindrop actually take?

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