What Makes Water Evaporate Faster?
Evaporation happens all the time, but the rate (speed) of evaporation changes based on surrounding conditions.
1. Exposed Surface Area
- Observation: Water in a wide plate evaporates faster than water in a small bottle cap.
- Reason: More water molecules are exposed to the air, allowing them to escape faster.
- Application: We spread out wet clothes to dry them.
2. Temperature (Heat)
- Observation: Clothes dry faster in sunlight than in shade.
- Reason: Heat provides energy for water to turn into vapour quickly.
3. Wind Speed
- Observation: Clothes dry faster on a windy day.
- Reason: Wind carries away the water vapour surrounding the wet object, allowing more water to evaporate.
4. Humidity
- Definition: The amount of water vapour present in the air.
- Observation: Clothes dry slowly on a rainy (humid) day.
- Reason: The air is already full of water vapour, so it cannot accept much more from the wet clothes.
Summary of Conditions for Fast Evaporation
| Condition | Effect on Evaporation |
|---|---|
| High Temperature | Increases Speed |
| Large Surface Area | Increases Speed |
| Strong Wind | Increases Speed |
| High Humidity | Decreases Speed |