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Chapter 2: Problem 25

In warm, humid weather, people who wear glasses experience a very common effect of phase change while getting off an air-conditioned bus: their glasses suddenly fog up. After a while, the glasses become clear again. Which of the following physical processes are involved in these phenomena? A. condensation followed by evaporation B. condensation followed by fusion C. solidification followed by evaporation D. solidification followed by fusion

Short Answer

Expert verified
A. condensation followed by evaporation

Step by step solution

01

Identify the Initial Phase Change

When glasses fog up, it is because water vapor in the warm, humid air condenses on the cold surface of the glasses. Therefore, the initial phase change involved is condensation.
02

Identify the Subsequent Phase Change

After a while, the glasses become clear again because the condensed water droplets on the glasses evaporate back into the air. The subsequent phase change is evaporation.
03

Verify the Correct Answer

Combining the two phase changes, condensation followed by evaporation matches the description of the phenomena. Hence, the correct answer is A.

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Condensation
Condensation is a process where gas changes into a liquid. This usually occurs when warm air comes into contact with a cooler surface. In the context of the exercise, the warm, humid air meets the cold surface of the glasses. This cools down the air near the glasses, causing the water vapor in the air to change into tiny droplets of liquid water.

These small water droplets form what's known as condensation. You can think of it as the reverse of boiling water. Instead of liquid turning into gas, gas turns into liquid.
  • Common examples include dew forming on grass in the morning.
  • Fogging up of mirrors in bathrooms after a hot shower.
Condensation is common in everyday life and forms part of the water cycle.
Evaporation
Evaporation is the process where a liquid turns into a gas. This happens when the liquid molecules gain enough energy to break away from the surface and enter the air as gas. In our example, once the glasses warm up to match the surrounding air, the tiny water droplets start to gain energy. This energy allows them to change back into water vapor and disappear from the glass surface.

Evaporation is most noticeable when water is heated but occurs at all temperatures. You'll notice it in:
  • Drying of wet clothes.
  • Water slowly disappearing from a pet’s water dish.
Evaporation contributes significantly to the Earth's water cycle, returning water from the surface to the atmosphere.
Physical Processes
Physical processes involve changes in the state of matter, such as from solid to liquid, liquid to gas, or vice versa. These changes are based on the transfer of energy but do not change the chemical composition of the substance. In our exercise, the key physical processes involved are condensation and evaporation.

When identifying physical processes, it's important to consider:
  • Temperature changes: Matter changes state because of how much or how little heat energy is present.
  • Molecular movement: During a phase change, the movement of molecules changes, but their identity remains the same.
Understanding physical processes helps us comprehend how substances behave in different conditions and environments, making everyday phenomena easier to explain.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

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