Evaporation Study Guide

1. Definition: Evaporation is the process in which a liquid turns into a gas.
2. Factors Affecting Evaporation:
   • Temperature: Higher temperatures lead to faster evaporation as the molecules gain more energy.
   • Surface Area: Larger surface area leads to faster evaporation as more molecules can escape into the air.
   • Humidity: Lower humidity (dry air) leads to faster evaporation as the air can hold more water vapor.
3. Examples of Evaporation:
   • Drying of wet clothes
   • Evaporation of water from a puddle
   • Evaporation of sweat from the skin
4. Importance of Evaporation:
   • It helps regulate the Earth's temperature by releasing heat into the atmosphere.
   • It is a key part of the water cycle, moving water from the Earth's surface into the atmosphere.
5. Evaporation in the Water Cycle:
   • Evaporation occurs when the sun heats up water in rivers, lakes, and oceans, turning it into water vapor.
   • The water vapor rises into the air where it cools and forms clouds through condensation, eventually leading to precipitation.
6. Experiments on Evaporation:
   • Set up containers with different amounts of water and observe the rate of evaporation over time.
   • Place wet towels in different areas with varying temperatures and humidity levels to see how quickly they dry.