Difference Between Evaporation and Condensation: Evaporation and condensation are two processes and very important concepts from the NEET syllabus , they might sound similar, but they're quite different. When aspirants use water as an example to explain these concepts.
Water is made up of tiny particles called molecules. These molecules are attracted to each other, but they also have energy that makes them move around. When the molecules at the surface of the water move really fast, they can escape into the air and become vapor. This change is called evaporation. The interesting part is that it can go both ways, vapor molecules can come back together and turn into liquid again, and this is called condensation.Difference Between Evaporation and Condensation | ||
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Parameter | Evaporation | Condensation |
Definition | The process of turning a liquid into a gas at temperatures below its boiling point. | The process of turning a gas into a liquid, releasing heat. |
Temperature | Takes place at the surface of the liquid and can occur at any temperature. | Occurs when a gas is cooled, typically at or below its dew point. |
Energy Change | Absorbs heat energy from the surroundings. | Releases heat energy to the surroundings. |
Phase Change | Liquid to gas (vapor). | Gas to liquid. |
Molecular Movement | Fast-moving molecules escape from the liquid. | Gas molecules slow down and come together to form a liquid. |
Location in Water Cycle | Mainly occurs in bodies of water exposed to sunlight (e.g., oceans, lakes). | Commonly observed in the atmosphere, leading to cloud formation. |
Applications | Drying clothes, puddles evaporating, cooling systems. | Cloud formation, dew forming on the grass in the morning. |
Example - When you leave a wet towel out in the sun, the water on the towel will gradually evaporate. The heat from the sun provides the necessary energy for the water molecules on the surface of the towel to break their bonds and transition into a gaseous state, becoming water vapor.
Example - A common example of condensation is the formation of dew on grass in the early morning. During the night, the temperature drops, causing the water vapor in the air to lose energy and condense into tiny water droplets on the cool surfaces of the grass. This process is also responsible for the formation of clouds in the atmosphere when warm air rises and cools at higher altitudes, leading to the condensation of water vapor into visible cloud formations.
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