How To Build the Best Snowman, According To Science

Moms.com

By Allison Cooper

Published Jan 31, 2019

Building the perfect snowman is challenging and dependent on so many factors that kids too often don't take into consideration.

Credit: iStock / MNStudio

With winter in full swing, the kids are undoubtedly asking about building snowmen on the regular. How could they not though? These sweet round figures have become a symbol of happiness during the winter months as kids secretly cast their wishes that he or she would come to life at night like Frosty. We had the same wishes as kids, too, except our Frosty's are probably today's Olafs.

However, building the perfect snowman is challenging and dependent on so many factors that kids too often don't take into consideration, then mom and dad come to the rescue. Well, we've got some insider advice for you that will help you build the best snowman every single time and it's according to science - so it's legit.

According to LifeHacker, there is a U.S. Patent (the 8,011,991st one to be exact) that is called the “Apparatus for Facilitating the Construction of a Snow Man/Woman,” meaning there is a right way to build a snowman that we should all be following.

But what role does science play in all this? Snow. It's all about the darn snow.

If you are unaware, snow comes in five different varies (yup, we had no clue) and they are all classified by the amount of moisture that they contain. They reported that Dan Snowman, a Rhode Island College in Providence physicist, told Smithsonian.com:

Dry snow, which has zero percent water
Moist now, which has less than three percent water
Wet snow, which is made up of three to eight percent water
Very wet snow, made of eight to 15 percent water
Slush, which has more than 15 percent water

The sweet spot for building the perfect snowman is somewhere in the middle because the snow needs enough moisture to be able to stick together. This type of snow will typically end up in your backyard whenever the temperature is a comfortable 32 degrees outside.

The location also plays a key role, as you want the ground where you are building your snowman to be flat. And those three circles that snow people are typically made into? Those have a reason, too. Spheres are known to keep snowman stable and melt a lot less quickly.

And lastly, avoid making your snowballs, too big. Yes, you've gotta find that happy medium. Students at West Virginia’s Bluefield State College came up with an ideal ratio for your snowman: from bottom to top, 3:2:1. Don't forget it as you tackle snowman building weather!