Evaporation is a cooling process and condensation is
O a warming process.
O a cooling process also.
O neither of these
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Correct Answer: ✅ A warming process.
Explanation
Evaporation and condensation are two opposite processes in the water cycle and both involve energy transfer, particularly in the form of heat.
Evaporation is a cooling process because it requires energy. When water molecules at the surface absorb enough heat energy, they overcome intermolecular forces and escape into the air as vapor. This energy comes from the surroundings, such as your skin or a puddle of water, and thus lowers the temperature of those surroundings. This is why sweating cools you down—the sweat evaporates by using body heat, taking energy away from your skin.
On the other hand, condensation is a warming process because it releases heat. When water vapor in the air cools down and changes back into liquid form, it releases the latent heat of vaporization—the energy that was originally absorbed during evaporation. This heat is released into the surrounding environment.
For example, on a cold mirror in the bathroom after a hot shower, water vapor condenses and releases heat, warming the mirror slightly. This principle also explains why clouds release heat into the atmosphere when water vapor condenses into droplets—a critical factor in weather systems and storms.
This latent heat release is significant in atmospheric science. In weather systems, the heat released during condensation can fuel convection currents, leading to cloud formation and sometimes even powerful storms like hurricanes.
In summary:
- Evaporation removes heat from surroundings → cooling effect.
- Condensation releases heat to surroundings → warming effect.
Understanding these processes is essential in fields like meteorology, environmental science, and even engineering, where controlling or utilizing phase changes of water and other substances is crucial.
