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Evaporation and Condensation

Mist is created when tiny water vapour molecules that rose into the air condense back into a liquid. The individual droplets are so light they just 'hang in the air'.
Mist is created when tiny water vapour molecules that rose into the air condense back into a liquid. The individual droplets are so light they just 'hang in the air'.
Credit: Wikimedia Commons. Click here for the license
Clouds are made of tiny water droplets. When enough of them bump into each other and stick together they get big enough and heavy enough that they fall out of the cloud as rain.
Clouds are made of tiny water droplets. When enough of them bump into each other and stick together they get big enough and heavy enough that they fall out of the cloud as rain.
Credit: Wikimedia Commons. Click here for the license

When you heat a liquid, it can evaporate into a gas. When you cool a gas, it can condense back into a liquid.

Evaporation: Water (liquid) turns into water vapour (a gas) when it warms up.

Condensation: Water vapour (gas) turns back into water (liquid) when it cools down.

💡 Fun Facts

  • Evaporation is why puddles disappear on a sunny or windy day. The water turns into an invisible gas and mixes with the air.
  • Condensation is what makes clouds! The invisible water vapour high in the sky cools down and turns into tiny, visible water droplets.
  • You see condensation on a cold day when you breathe out—your warm, damp breath (gas) hits the cold air and turns into a little cloud (liquid).