Question

You have two open cups of water. One cup of water is left outside in the sun for two hours. The other is left in an air-conditioned room for the same amount of time. What would you expect to observe of the water level after the two hours?

Answer 1

Step-by-step explanation:

Evaporation is inhibited by high humidity. Low humidity is as result of hotter temperatures that is temperature when the cup of water is under the sun and vice versa for high humidity.

Relative humidity defined as the amount of water vapor in the surrounding air compared with the maximum possible. At its maximum which is termed saturation, relative humidity is 100% and evaporation is inhibited.

The amount of water vapor the air can hold depends on its temperature. Relative humidity rises at low temperatures for example in an air conditioned environment. As the air temperature declines, sometimes reaching the dew point relative humidity is 100%, and fog may result from the condensation of water droplets if they are small enough to stay in suspension.

Drying is more effective with hot air rather than cold air, because hot air can hold more water vapor. The capacity of air to hold water vapor is based on vapor pressure of water. The liquid and solid phases are continuously giving off vapor because some of the molecules have high enough speeds to enter the gas phase.

Therefore, a cup of water placed in the sun will have a reduced water level compared to that in an air conditioned room.