Editing Water vapour
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[[Category: Physics]] | [[Category: Physics]] | ||
== Explanation == | == Explanation == | ||
| − | Water vapour is [[water]] in its gaseous [[phase of matter|phase]]. It is abundant on [[Earth]], playing a vital part in the [[water cycle]], where the liquid water from the surface [[evaporation|evaporates]] into vapour, reaches the [[atmosphere]] and [[condensation|condenses]] back to liquid water in the clouds, and [[precipitation|precipitates]] on the surface as [[rain]], [[hail]] or [[snow]]. It is also found in trace amounts in other [[planet]]s as well, including their [[natural satellite]]s. Water vapour is also observed on several [[asteroid]]s and [[comet]]s. Water vapour is an effective [[greenhouse gas]] that absorbs and traps the [[infrared]] radiation in the atmosphere | + | Water vapour is [[water]] in its gaseous [[phase of matter|phase]]. It is abundant on [[Earth]], playing a vital part in the [[water cycle]], where the liquid water from the surface [[evaporation|evaporates]] into vapour, reaches the [[atmosphere]] and [[condensation|condenses]] back to liquid water in the clouds, and [[precipitation|precipitates]] on the surface as [[rain]], [[hail]] or [[snow]]. It is also found in trace amounts in other [[planet]]s as well, including their [[natural satellite]]s. Water vapour is also observed on several [[asteroid]]s and [[comet]]s. Water vapour is an effective [[greenhouse gas]] that absorbs and traps the [[infrared]] radiation in the atmosphere. |
== Frequently Asked Questions == | == Frequently Asked Questions == | ||
=== What is the difference between water vapour and steam? === | === What is the difference between water vapour and steam? === | ||
Steam and water vapour are technically interchangeable terms, and they don't really have any differences. | Steam and water vapour are technically interchangeable terms, and they don't really have any differences. | ||
| − | {{Misconception | Water vapour is visible, and steam is not visible. Clouds are made up of water vapour.}}{{Fact | Both steam and water vapour are two different terms that are used to represent the gaseous phases of water. The gaseous phase is invisible. When the water molecules in that invisible gaseous phase condense back to liquid droplets, it forms clouds. So clouds are made up of liquid droplets that are condensed from water vapour.}} | + | {{Misconception | Water vapour is visible, and steam is not visible. Clouds are made up of water vapour.}} |
| + | {{Fact | Both steam and water vapour are two different terms that are used to represent the gaseous phases of water. The gaseous phase is invisible. When the water molecules in that invisible gaseous phase condense back to liquid droplets, it forms clouds. So clouds are made up of liquid droplets that are condensed from water vapour.}} | ||
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=== How water vapour forms snow? === | === How water vapour forms snow? === | ||
When water vapour cool and expand in the atmosphere, the suspended dust and other particles in the atmosphere serve as [[nucleation]] sites for the vapour to condense back into liquid droplets. The temperature at which the condensation of vapour occurs is known as the [[dew point]]. When the [[temperature]] is below the [[freezing point]] of water the water vapour that evaporates in the atmosphere will be [[supercooling|cooled]] further below the freezing point. If the dew point is well below 0 °C, instead of condensing back to liquid water, the supercooled vapour [[deposition|desublimate]] into ice crystals, which then precipitates as [[snow]]. | When water vapour cool and expand in the atmosphere, the suspended dust and other particles in the atmosphere serve as [[nucleation]] sites for the vapour to condense back into liquid droplets. The temperature at which the condensation of vapour occurs is known as the [[dew point]]. When the [[temperature]] is below the [[freezing point]] of water the water vapour that evaporates in the atmosphere will be [[supercooling|cooled]] further below the freezing point. If the dew point is well below 0 °C, instead of condensing back to liquid water, the supercooled vapour [[deposition|desublimate]] into ice crystals, which then precipitates as [[snow]]. | ||
=== How water vapour works as a greenhouse gas? === | === How water vapour works as a greenhouse gas? === | ||
| − | A greenhouse gas is a gas that has the properties to absorb and emit the energy from the electromagnetic radiation from the [[Sun]] and the re-radiated infrared energy from the surface of the planet. On Earth, the [[greenhouse effect]] happens due to the presence of the greenhouse gases like water vapour, [[carbon dioxide]], [[nitrous oxide]], [[methane]], and [[chlorofluorocarbon]]s. These gas molecules are loosely bound to each other, and they vibrate on absorbing the infrared radiation. They then emit the same radiation to reach their original bound state. As water [[molecule]]s have two [[hydrogen]] [[atom]]s bonded with an [[oxygen]] atom with a [[ | + | A greenhouse gas is a gas that has the properties to absorb and emit the energy from the electromagnetic radiation from the [[Sun]] and the re-radiated infrared energy from the surface of the planet. On Earth, the [[greenhouse effect]] happens due to the presence of the greenhouse gases like water vapour, [[carbon dioxide]], [[nitrous oxide]], [[methane]], and [[chlorofluorocarbon]]s. These gas molecules are loosely bound to each other, and they vibrate on absorbing the infrared radiation. They then emit the same radiation to reach their original bound state. As water [[molecule]]s have two [[hydrogen]] [[atom]]s bonded with an [[oxygen]] atom with a [[hydrogen bond]], the molecule is [[polarity|polar]] with two lone pair [[electron]]s. These lone pair electrons repel each other and form the popular 'bent' structure of water molecule, loosening the bonds. Thus the water molecule can vibrate and then emit infrared radiation. This makes water vapour a greenhouse gas. |