wiz-icon
MyQuestionIcon
MyQuestionIcon
1
You visited us 1 times! Enjoying our articles? Unlock Full Access!
Question

An icicle-shaped formation growing from the ceiling of a cave is called ________________.

A
stalactite
Right on! Give the BNAT exam to get a 100% scholarship for BYJUS courses
B
stalagmite
No worries! We‘ve got your back. Try BYJU‘S free classes today!
C
sink holes
No worries! We‘ve got your back. Try BYJU‘S free classes today!
D
none of the above
No worries! We‘ve got your back. Try BYJU‘S free classes today!
Open in App
Solution

The correct option is A stalactite
A stalactite from the Greek stalasso, meaning, "to drip", and meaning "that which drips" is a type of formation that hangs from the ceiling of caves, hot springs, or manmade structures such as bridges and mines.

A stalagmite from the Greek stalagmitês, from stalagmias, "dropping, trickling" is a type of rock formation that rises from the floor of a cave due to the accumulation of material deposited on the floor from ceiling drippings.

Icicles typically form on days when the air temperature is subfreezing but sunshine warms and melts some snow or ice. As it drips off, a water droplet freezes when it loses its heat to the cold air.
It starts with a few frozen droplets and after reaching a certain size drops begin to drip along the side of the structure turning into a pointy stick-like structure. Icicles formed in caves are also known as ice stalactites.

A sinkhole, also known as a cenote, sink, sink-hole, swallet, swallow hole, or doline (the different terms for sinkholes are often used interchangeably), is a depression or hole in the ground caused by some form of collapse of the surface layer.
Hence, from the given options, option A is the correct answer.

flag
Suggest Corrections
thumbs-up
0
Join BYJU'S Learning Program
similar_icon
Related Videos
thumbnail
lock
Movement of Groundwater
GEOGRAPHY
Watch in App
Join BYJU'S Learning Program
CrossIcon