Why did the water drops bounce instead of vaporizing on the hot cooker?

In summary, after an experiment with an infrared camera, it was observed that water drops on a hot cooker surface bounced from one point to another before finally vaporizing. The drops did not instantly vaporize upon contact with the hot surface due to the pressure of the water vapor formation on the bottom of the drops. This caused them to move smoothly on the surface before eventually evaporating.
  • #1
Makadamij
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After completing an experiment observing a glass of water on a switched-on cooker with an infrared camera, some water drops accidentally landed on the surface of the hot cooker and started to bounce from one point to another until they finally vaporized. I wonder why the drops instead of vaporizing at the same time they came in touch with the hot surface, they just kept bouncing from it. Does it have something to do with the water vapour preventing the drops to vaporize instantly? Thank you for your answers!
 
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  • #2
The pressure of the vapor formation on the bottom surface of the drops prevents them from contacting the surface of the cooker - causing them to move quite frictionlessly on the metal surface for some time before evaporating completely.
 
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1. What is vaporization?

Vaporization, also known as evaporation, is the process by which a liquid turns into a gas. This occurs when the molecules of a liquid gain enough energy to break free from their bonds and escape into the air.

2. What factors affect the rate of vaporization?

The rate of vaporization can be affected by several factors including temperature, surface area, and the type of liquid. Higher temperatures, larger surface areas, and liquids with weaker intermolecular forces tend to have a faster rate of vaporization.

3. How is vaporization different from boiling?

Vaporization and boiling are both processes by which a liquid turns into a gas, but they differ in the amount of energy required. Vaporization can occur at any temperature, while boiling specifically refers to the process of a liquid reaching its boiling point and turning into a gas.

4. Can vaporization occur at any temperature?

Yes, vaporization can occur at any temperature as long as the molecules of the liquid have enough energy to escape into the air. However, the rate of vaporization may be slower at lower temperatures.

5. What are some real-life applications of vaporization?

Vaporization has many practical applications, such as in the distillation of alcohol and other liquids, in cooling systems such as air conditioners and refrigerators, and in the production of steam for power generation. It is also an important part of the water cycle, where water evaporates from bodies of water and falls as precipitation.

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