Is there a difference between water vapor and wet steam?

In summary, water vapor and wet steam both contain tiny droplets of water particles, but they are not necessarily the same. The state of the fluid is determined by solving for vapor quality and checking for superheating. Wet steam refers to steam that is not superheated, while water vapor is gaseous and can exist in all three forms (wet, saturated, and super-saturated) depending on its dryness fraction or vapor quality. Water vapor is invisible to the human eye and can condense to form wet steam, which contains suspended liquid droplets. However, this is not a stable situation as some of the wet steam will also evaporate. Plain gaseous water is referred to as water vapor or dry steam.
  • #1
M.Kalai vanan
32
0
Both water vapor and wet steam contain both contain tiny droplets of water particles(correct me if I'm wrong).Does it mean both water vapor and wet steam are same and one ?
 
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  • #2
Not necessarily. You have to solve for vapour quality (X) and check what state your fluid is in.

X=mvapor/mtotal
Wet steam - generally means that it's not "superheated" - meaning that 0<x<1
 
  • #3
Water vapor is gaseous, it is not just tiny droplets.
 
  • #4
@ russ_watters
The so is wet steam containing suspended liquid particles in gaseous form.Can you please be more specific ?
 
  • #5
@ ksukhin
So, you say that vapor doesn't mean particularly wet steam but can refer to all three forms of steam (wet, saturated, super-saturated ) depending on the vapor quality or dryness fraction.
If so then if vapor exists in saturated and supersaturated states then they would be transparent (invisible to human eyes).But the standard definition of vapor states that it is visible in white form while steam in transparent in nature
watch this link
 
  • #6
M.Kalai vanan said:
@ russ_watters
The so is wet steam containing suspended liquid particles in gaseous form.Can you please be more specific ?
Suspended liquid particles are liquid particles (as the description says), they are not in gaseous form: what you said is a self-contradiction.

A gas is when no two molecules are connected to each other. A liquid is when a lot of molecules are stuck together.

Unfortunately, the Mr. Wizard video is wrong (though correct that the colloquial label is also wrong). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam
 
  • #7
@ russ_watters
So you say that water that evaporates from open or other sources at atmospheric conditions is water vapor(invisible to human eyes) and as they move upwards they condense to form clouds, containing suspended liquid droplets and is called wet steam.
If water vapor at atmospheric pressure and below saturation temperature (or at saturation temperature and lower pressure) contains suspended liquid droplets it is known as wet steam and if it doesn't contain liquid droplets and only plain gas then it is called water vapor.
 
  • #8
M.Kalai vanan said:
@ russ_watters
So you say that water that evaporates from open or other sources at atmospheric conditions is water vapor(invisible to human eyes) and as they move upwards they condense to form clouds, containing suspended liquid droplets and is called wet steam.
Yes.
If water vapor at atmospheric pressure and below saturation temperature (or at saturation temperature and lower pressure) contains suspended liquid droplets it is known as wet steam...
That's not a stable situation because water vapor can't exist at atomspheric pressure and below saturation (boiling) temperature, but yes, some of it condenses into wet steam...which then also evaporates as it disperses.
...and if it doesn't contain liquid droplets and only plain gas then it is called water vapor.
Yes, plain gaseous water is water vapor or dry steam.
 

1. What is the difference between water vapor and wet steam?

Water vapor is the gaseous form of water, while wet steam is a mixture of water vapor and liquid water. Wet steam has a higher moisture content than water vapor and is typically produced when liquid water is heated to its boiling point.

2. How is water vapor and wet steam formed?

Water vapor is formed when liquid water evaporates into the air. Wet steam is formed when liquid water is heated to its boiling point and the resulting steam contains both water vapor and liquid water droplets.

3. What is the importance of water vapor and wet steam in the Earth's atmosphere?

Water vapor and wet steam play a crucial role in the Earth's water cycle. Water vapor is the main component of the Earth's atmosphere and is responsible for regulating the planet's temperature. Wet steam is also important in the formation of clouds and precipitation.

4. How does the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere affect weather patterns?

The amount of water vapor in the atmosphere directly impacts weather patterns. High levels of water vapor can lead to humidity, cloud formation, and potentially heavy precipitation. Low levels of water vapor can result in dry, arid conditions.

5. Can water vapor and wet steam be converted back into liquid water?

Yes, both water vapor and wet steam can be converted back into liquid water through the process of condensation. This occurs when the air cools and can no longer hold as much water vapor, causing it to condense into liquid form.

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