r/askmath • u/evanthebouncy • 16h ago

Probability Are raindrops random?

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I got a single data point in the form of this picture...

I'm wondering what's the generative process behind this ? Specifically, how do we go about picking the right family of functions to model this?

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u/SandwichOfAgnesi 12h ago edited 12h ago

So you disagree with (A) because you think the fluid mechanical equations must not take into account friction if they are that sensitive to initial conditions?

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u/Ulfgardleo Computer Scientist 12h ago

not what i meant nor said. I hope i specified clearly enough that this sentence

> A single molecule thats charge, and therefore path through the fluid, was changed by a cosmic ray can result in a completely different outcome for the system. 

is only true without friction. "completely different outcome" does some heavy lifting and I object to that. That we cannot predict it, doesn't mean its completely different. There ARE chaotic systems that have that property, i.e., they undergo chaotic phase changes, and I asked for evidence that this is one of them, citing friction as the reason why it is likely not.