Can clothes dry without any air movement

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on whether clothes can dry in the absence of air movement, exploring the implications of different environmental conditions such as vacuum and absolute zero. Participants examine the mechanisms of evaporation, diffusion, and sublimation in various contexts.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants assert that clothes can dry in a large enough room without air movement, as water would evaporate and diffuse outwards.
  • Others clarify that if air and water were frozen solid at absolute zero, the question needs to be reformulated for clarity.
  • Some participants propose that clothes would dry effectively in a vacuum, suggesting that the lack of air pressure would facilitate boiling and diffusion of water molecules.
  • One participant notes that diffusion can occur in solids, referencing vacuum and freeze drying as effective methods that involve sublimation.
  • Another participant mentions that water vapor is less dense than surrounding air, which could create its own air movement despite the absence of wind.
  • There is a discussion about the molecular mass of air and water, with one participant speculating that buoyancy might relate to the concept of air movement.
  • Some participants question the mechanics of drying in a vacuum, particularly regarding the low vapor pressure and the rapid boiling of water.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express multiple competing views regarding the drying process in various conditions, and the discussion remains unresolved with no consensus on the implications of absolute zero or vacuum conditions.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include assumptions about the size of the room, the state of air and water at absolute zero, and the effects of vacuum on drying processes. The discussion does not resolve the complexities of these conditions.

jamesabc
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say there was no wind at all, no air movement. would your clothes still dry?
 
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Yes, if the room were large enough. Water would evaporate from the clothing and slowly diffuse outwards.
 
marcusl said:
Yes, if the room were large enough. Water would evaporate from the clothing and slowly diffuse outwards.


even if the air molecules were frozen in space as if it were a solid, would the water still diffuse?
 
By air movement it was assumed that you meant macroscopic air currents (aka wind), in which case marcusl has already given you the correct answer.

If you are referring to both air and water frozen solid at absolute zero (-273.15 degrees) then could you please repost your question to make that clear.
 
Clothes would dry extremely well in vacuum.
 
Diffusion occurs in solids. Vacuum/freeze drying is effective and incorporates sublimation. At absolute zero physical processes are much reduced.
 
The water vapour would be less dense than the surrounding air, so it would make it's own air movement.
 
STP air density is about 1.2 kg m^3. Air molecular mass averages about 29 while water is 18. Maybe the bloke's "movement" is buoyancy?
 
0xDEADBEEF said:
Clothes would dry extremely well in vacuum.

How come?
 
  • #10
JohnniG said:
How come?
There's not a lot of vapour pressure - the water would instantly boil
 
  • #11
And boiling is just another word for the water molecules diffusing out of the clothes.
 

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