How does humidity affect conductivity of air?

[AakashPandita]

How does humidity affect conductivity of air?

I am asking this that because I read that dry air is better insulator than normal air.

 

[berkeman]

How does humidity affect conductivity of air?

I am asking this that because I read that dry air is better insulator than normal air.

Do you find some graphs when you Google the subject?

 

[Chestermiller]

Are you talking about thermal conductivity or electrical conductivity?

Chet

 

[AakashPandita]

I was talking about electrical conductivity.
Just after I submitted this thread I found the answer in another page I was reading.
http://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/estatics/Lesson-1/Conductors-and-Insulators
i.e.
Water has a tendency to gradually remove excess charge from objects. When the humidity is high, a person acquiring an excess charge will tend to lose that charge to water molecules in the surrounding air. On the other hand, dry air conditions are more conducive to the buildup of static charge and more frequent electric shocks.

 

[pmacias]

Humidity does indeed affect the conductivity of air. This is because humidity is a measure of the amount of water vapor in the air. Water vapor is a polar molecule, meaning it has a positive and negative charge on opposite ends. This polarity allows water molecules to attract and interact with other molecules, including gases in the air.

When the air is more humid, there is a higher concentration of water molecules present. These water molecules can interact with other molecules in the air, such as oxygen and nitrogen, and increase their conductivity. This is because the water molecules act as conductive bridges between the gas molecules, allowing for the flow of electricity.

On the other hand, dry air has a lower concentration of water molecules and therefore has less potential for conductivity. This is why dry air is considered a better insulator than humid air.

However, it's important to note that humidity is not the only factor that affects the conductivity of air. Temperature, pressure, and the presence of other gases can also play a role. Overall, humidity can have a significant impact on the conductivity of air and should be considered when studying or using electrical systems.