Final answer:
The complete definition of snow that would be correct is option C: Snow is a type of precipitation that forms when water vapor in the air freezes.
Step-by-step explanation:
A student sentence that fully encapsulates the definition of snow could be presented in several ways. However, to capture the essence of snow accurately, it is essential to recognize that snow is not merely a winter phenomenon but a specific type of precipitation.
This precipitation is formed when water vapor in the atmosphere freezes into ice crystals, which then combine to fall as snowflakes. The correct complete definition from the provided options would be: "Snow is a type of precipitation that forms when water vapor in the air freezes." This statement not only describes what snow is but also links it to the broader context of the water cycle and atmospheric conditions.
Moreover, it's important to understand that snow remains on mountain slopes even when temperatures are above the freezing point due to the heat required for the phase change from solid to liquid, which takes time to transfer from the air.
Snow provides a good example of how heat exchange plays a critical role in phase changes and why we can have snow-covered landscapes even when the air is slightly warmer. The knowledge that snow is the solid phase of water and that enormous heat is necessary for phase changes is crucial for understanding the natural world and processes such as the water cycle, which includes evaporation, condensation, and precipitation in various forms.