Question
Just as precise measurements are necessary in science, it is equally important to be able to make rough estimates of quantities using rudimentary ideas and common observations. Think of ways by which you can estimate the following (where an estimate is difficult to obtain, try to get an upper bound on the quantity):
The total mass of rain-bearing clouds over India during the Monsoon.

Answer

During monsoons, a metrologist records about 215cm of rainfall in India i.e., the height of water column, h = 215cm = 2.15m
Area of country, A = 3.3 × 1012m2
Hence, volume of rain water, V = A × h = 7.09 × 1012m3
Density of water, p = 1 × 103kg m-3
Hence, mass of rain water = p × V = 7.09 × 1015kg
Hence, the total mass of rain-bearing clouds over India is approximately 7.09 × 1015kg

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