Pressure of liquid and evapouration of water

In summary, evaporation cools water as the highest energy molecules escape the surface, lowering the average energy and temperature. This can even lead to the freezing of water in a vacuum. However, the water at the surface is not at 100 degrees Celsius, as there are variations in energy among individual molecules. This process also occurs with liquid nitrogen, showing that it is not the temperature of the water that determines evaporation.
  • #1
sgstudent
739
3
When we suck a straw, we produce a vacuum in our mouths hence the atmospheric pressure on the outside is greater than of the liquid above the straw hence pushing the liquid up. But what if we arrest underwater and we open our mouth, why would water flow into it? Is it because our mouth has a smaller pressure than the surrounding water, so it seeks to reach equilibrium so it flows into it?

Also, what allows fluid to flow about at constant and random motions? Is there a pressure explanation for this? When we use thee formula P=hpg at a certain point is that theft pressure exerted on whatever is below it? Eg I have a 10m water tank and if I use hpg at 5m, then is that the pressure exerted on the water molecules below it? Lastly, if I have a box placed into the water, the pressure at the base (parallel to the bottom) is acting upwards right, after calculating the P=hpg at that point. However, if I have a larger surface area box placed instead it will still have the same pressure at that point right? So would the force acting also be larger?

As for evaporation, since the water absorbs heat energy from the surrounding our body would be cooler right? But when the enter molecules at the surface of the water body gains enough energy then it would break free its bonds and escape as a gas, so does it mean that the water at the surface is at 100 degrees celcius? So if there is some gas in the air won't it be very hot?

Thanks for the help guys!
 
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  • #2
sgstudent said:
When we suck a straw, we produce a vacuum in our mouths hence the atmospheric pressure on the outside is greater than of the liquid above the straw hence pushing the liquid up. But what if we arrest underwater and we open our mouth, why would water flow into it? Is it because our mouth has a smaller pressure than the surrounding water, so it seeks to reach equilibrium so it flows into it?

Also, what allows fluid to flow about at constant and random motions? Is there a pressure explanation for this? When we use thee formula P=hpg at a certain point is that theft pressure exerted on whatever is below it? Eg I have a 10m water tank and if I use hpg at 5m, then is that the pressure exerted on the water molecules below it? Lastly, if I have a box placed into the water, the pressure at the base (parallel to the bottom) is acting upwards right, after calculating the P=hpg at that point. However, if I have a larger surface area box placed instead it will still have the same pressure at that point right? So would the force acting also be larger?

As for evaporation, since the water absorbs heat energy from the surrounding our body would be cooler right? But when the enter molecules at the surface of the water body gains enough energy then it would break free its bonds and escape as a gas, so does it mean that the water at the surface is at 100 degrees celcius? So if there is some gas in the air won't it be very hot?

Thanks for the help guys!




The water at the surface is not 100 degrees C. Where a cup of water in a room is made up of septillions of water molecules, the temperature of the water as a whole is just room temperature. But with the random collisions of water molecules with one another and with the air, the energy of every individual molecule is not the same. Some may be faster and others slower. Some may be fast enough to escape the surface of the water altogether.

Evaporation cools the water because all that's happening in evaporation is that the highest energy molecules are escaping the cup. When this happens, the average energy and temperature is lowered as a result.

In fact, you can use this to freeze water by putting the cup in a vacuum. There's a nice video showing how to do this with liquid nitrogen.. That's right. You can freeze liquid nitrogen by putting it into a vacuum.



Hope this helps,

-James
 
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  • #3
jfizzix said:
The water at the surface is not 100 degrees C. Where a cup of water in a room is made up of septillions of water molecules, the temperature of the water as a whole is just room temperature. But with the random collisions of water molecules with one another and with the air, the energy of every individual molecule is not the same. Some may be faster and others slower. Some may be fast enough to escape the surface of the water altogether.

Evaporation cools the water because all that's happening in evaporation is that the highest energy molecules are escaping the cup. When this happens, the average energy and temperature is lowered as a result.

In fact, you can use this to freeze water by putting the cup in a vacuum. There's a nice video showing how to do this with liquid nitrogen.. That's right. You can freeze liquid nitrogen by putting it into a vacuum.



Hope this helps,

-James


Hi James, but I thought that the surface molecules need to gain enough energy to escape from the bottom stuff; so isn't that energy equivalent to the amount of boiling water? So if we have a single water molecule m, and we calculate the energy to get to 100 degree it would be Q=mc(dt) then to get to the gaseous state its Q=ml. So won't it be at 100 degrees? Thanks
 
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  • #4
sgstudent said:
Hi James, but I thought that the surface molecules need to gain enough energy to escape from the bottom stuff; so isn't that energy equivalent to the amount of boiling water? So if we have a single water molecule m, and we calculate the energy to get to 100 degree it would be Q=mc(dt) then to get to the gaseous state its Q=ml. So won't it be at 100 degrees? Thanks

The temperature of the surface of water is not at 100 degrees. It's only those few molecules who have so much energy (mc dt + ml) compared to the average molecule and which happen to be at the surface, that can go into the gas phase.

It wouldn't be right to say that the molecules at the surface are all 100 degrees. Only those few which happen to evaporate can be considered to be that hot. Even then, the temperature of a single molecule is ill defined, as it is a bulk property of material, like pressure, or density.

Hope this helps,

-James
 
  • #5


I can provide a response to the concepts of pressure and evaporation mentioned in the content.

Firstly, the explanation for why water flows into our mouths when we open them underwater is indeed due to the difference in pressure. Our mouths have a lower pressure than the surrounding water, and as you mentioned, the water seeks to reach equilibrium by flowing into our mouths. This is also known as the principle of communicating vessels, where fluids will always flow from a region of higher pressure to a region of lower pressure.

As for the constant and random motion of fluids, this is known as Brownian motion and it is caused by the collisions of molecules within the fluid. These collisions create a random and chaotic movement of the molecules, which can be observed in the movement of particles in a liquid or gas. This motion is not due to pressure, but rather the kinetic energy of the molecules.

The formula P=hpg, also known as the hydrostatic equation, can be used to calculate the pressure exerted by a fluid at a certain depth. In your example, if you use this formula at a depth of 5m in a 10m water tank, then yes, the pressure exerted on the water molecules below that point would be equivalent to the calculated value. However, it is important to note that this formula assumes a static fluid with no surface tension or other external forces acting on it. In reality, there may be other factors at play that could affect the pressure.

In regards to evaporation, the process of water absorbing heat energy from the surrounding and evaporating is known as latent heat of vaporization. This is a cooling process, as the energy absorbed by the water molecules is used to break the bonds between them and evaporate into a gas. However, the water at the surface does not need to be at 100 degrees Celsius for evaporation to occur. The rate of evaporation depends on various factors such as temperature, humidity, and air pressure.

Additionally, the presence of gas in the air does not necessarily mean that it will be very hot. The temperature of the gas would depend on the source of the gas and its surroundings. For example, the gas may be at a different temperature if it is coming from a fire or a refrigerator.

I hope this helps to clarify some of the concepts mentioned in the content. Keep asking questions and exploring the world around us!
 

1. What is the relationship between pressure and the evaporation of water?

The pressure of a liquid, such as water, directly affects its rate of evaporation. Generally, as pressure increases, the boiling point of a liquid also increases, making it harder for the liquid to evaporate. On the other hand, when pressure decreases, the boiling point decreases, making it easier for the liquid to evaporate. This is why water boils and evaporates faster at higher altitudes, where the atmospheric pressure is lower.

2. How does temperature impact the pressure of a liquid?

Temperature and pressure are directly related in a closed system. As the temperature of a liquid increases, the pressure also increases, and vice versa. This is known as Charles' Law. Therefore, as the temperature of water increases, the pressure also increases, making it harder for the water to evaporate. This is why boiling water requires a higher temperature than room temperature water.

3. How does the surface area of water affect its evaporation rate?

The surface area of a liquid directly affects its evaporation rate. The larger the surface area, the more molecules of the liquid are exposed to the air, increasing the chances of evaporation. This is why water in a shallow dish will evaporate faster than water in a tall glass. Additionally, increasing the surface area by stirring the liquid can also speed up the evaporation process.

4. What role do external factors, such as wind or humidity, play in the evaporation of water?

External factors, such as wind and humidity, can greatly impact the evaporation rate of water. Wind helps to remove the water vapor molecules from the surface of the liquid, increasing the rate of evaporation. On the other hand, high humidity levels in the air make it harder for the water molecules to escape into the air, slowing down the evaporation process.

5. How does the type of liquid affect its rate of evaporation?

The type of liquid can also affect its rate of evaporation. This is because different liquids have different molecular structures, which can impact their boiling points and vapor pressure. For example, alcohol has a lower boiling point than water, so it will evaporate faster. Additionally, liquids with weaker intermolecular forces, such as gasoline, will also evaporate faster than liquids with stronger intermolecular forces, such as water.

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