Which of the following statements is true regarding rime icing?

Rime ice is characterized by its formation process, which occurs when supercooled water droplets collide with a surface and freeze rapidly, creating a rough, opaque ice that typically appears white and frosty, rather than clear and transparent. The correct answer highlights that rime ice is lighter than clear ice due to its structure. Rime ice forms when the water droplets freeze quickly and trap a significant amount of air within, leading to a less dense structure compared to clear ice, which forms when water freezes more slowly and densely, resulting in a heavier ice accumulation.

Additionally, while rime ice does affect the aircraft's performance by increasing drag and potentially altering aerodynamic properties, it does not impact the overall weight of the aircraft in a significant way compared to other forms of ice. The statement regarding rime ice forming slowly is inaccurate as rime ice formation is an immediate process upon contact with supercooled droplets.