Why Does Steamy Window-Pans Appear Opaque? Experts Explain

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In summary, the conversation discusses the visibility and transparency of the film of water that forms on window-pans when boiling water in a cold room. There are multiple factors that contribute to the film's appearance, including refraction, air bubbles, and the varying sizes of water droplets. The presence of these droplets also explains why the film is not smooth, but rather appears as a collection of small droplets on the window surface.
  • #1
zhana
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Hi,
When I boil some water,and outside is cold,window-pans in my kitchen get steamy.Here comes my question.Shouldn't that thin film of water condensate be light transparent?I wonder why becouse it is nothing else but clear water.
Does the film structure become corrugated somehow or other mechanism preventing transparency is involved?
Experts please explain -Zhana.
 
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  • #2
no physicist here, but distortion thru refraction seems to be culprit.
 
  • #3
How clean are your windows? In any case, there are going to be air bubbles throughout the layer- that's what usually makes a film of water translucent.
 
  • #4
Also, the water condenses in many droplets of differing thicknesses. Each droplet acts like a different microlens. The light that passes through each droplet gets refracted in a different direction, scattering the light.

Njorl
 
  • #5
Although the water is not visible, and the air is not visible, the border between the two is visible. A familiar example is sunlight reflecting off the surface of the water.

The visibility of condensation, mist and clouds are all results of light scattering through or reflections on the surface of minature droplets of water.
 
  • #6
Thank You All for your replies,
Njorl's explanation looks promising to me to describe the structure.The film isn't smooth but the window-pan is cowered by many of small water droplets of different sizes attached to the glass surface?
If that is so ,what is the average size of such droplet and why they don't join together and form smooth water plane ?Potential energy?
 

1. Why do steamy window-panes appear opaque?

When water vapor from the air comes into contact with a cold window surface, it condenses and forms small droplets of liquid water. These droplets scatter light in all different directions, making the window appear opaque or foggy.

2. How does the temperature affect the appearance of steamy window-panes?

The colder the surface of the window, the more water vapor will condense on it, making the window appear more opaque. On the other hand, a warmer surface will cause the water droplets to evaporate, making the window clear again.

3. Can other surfaces besides windows appear steamy and opaque?

Yes, any surface that is colder than the surrounding air can cause water vapor to condense and create a foggy appearance. This can happen with mirrors, glass bottles, and even eyeglasses.

4. How long does it take for steamy window-panes to become clear again?

This depends on the temperature and humidity levels in the room. Warmer temperatures and lower humidity will cause the water droplets to evaporate faster, while colder temperatures and higher humidity will prolong the foggy appearance.

5. Is it harmful to have steamy window-panes in a room?

No, it is not harmful, but it can be a sign of high humidity levels in the room. This can lead to mold growth and other moisture-related issues, so it is important to keep the room well-ventilated and address any underlying humidity problems.

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