Clouds are primarily composed of tiny liquid water droplets and/or ice crystals suspended in the air. These droplets and crystals are neutral (uncharged) and form when water vapor in the atmosphere cools and condenses around microscopic particles like dust or salt, known as condensation nuclei.
Evaluation of Options:
Neutral water molecules suspended in air
- Partially Correct: While clouds consist of water droplets, referring to them as "molecules" isn't accurate. Additionally, these droplets are in liquid or solid form, not gaseous molecules.
Charged water particles dispersed in air
- Incorrect: The water droplets and ice crystals in clouds are neutral, not charged.
Smoke and water vapours dispersed in air
- Incorrect: Clouds are not composed of smoke. While water vapor is present in the atmosphere, clouds form from condensed water droplets or ice crystals, not vapor.
Smoke in air
- Incorrect: This describes air pollution, not clouds.
Conclusion:
The most accurate description is that clouds are a dispersion of tiny liquid water droplets and/or ice crystals suspended in air. Among the given options, the first one is the closest, though not entirely precise.
Answer: (1) Neutral water molecules suspended in air
https://www.noaa.gov/jetstream/clouds/how-clouds-form
https://climatekids.nasa.gov/cloud-formation/
https://www.britannica.com/science/cloud-meteorology
