Skip to main content

What happens to the particles in invisible steam in order for it to become a visible cloud?

States of Matter

The three most commonly observed states of matter on Earth are: solids, liquids, and gases:



  • Solids: Solids are composed of particles that are close together.


  • Liquids: Liquids are composed of particles that are further apart and are able to slide past one another.


  • Gases: Gases are composed of particles that are very far apart and have a lot of kinetic energy.

State Changes


  • When sufficient heat energy is added to a solid, the intermolecular forces between the particles are disrupted and the substance is able to transition into the liquid state. This is called melting.

  • When sufficient heat energy is added to a liquid, the intermolecular forces between the particles are disrupted and the substance is able to transition into the gas state. This is called vaporization.

  • When heat energy is removed from a liquid, the particles become more strongly attracted to one another and the substance transitions into the solid state. This is called freezing.

  • When heat energy is removed from a gas, the particles become more strongly attracted to one another and the substance transitions into the liquid state. This is called condensation.

When water is in the gas state, it is called water vapor. Water vapor is invisible. As water vapor cools, some of the water particles transition into the liquid state and move closer together. When we see steam, we are really seeing tiny drops of water that have condensed into the liquid state.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What is the meaning of "juggling fiends" in Macbeth?

Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a... Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a sense of guilt, and that man tells him: Despair thy charm. And let the angel whom thou still hast serve...
Post a Comment
Read more

Discuss movements that were inspired by the Civil Rights Movement and list one success for each group.

African-Americans contributed in a very big way during World War II. These contributions were demonstrated at home and on the battlefield. After the war, African-Americans properly felt it was time for them to achieve equality with white Americans. During the 1950's, the modern Civil Rights Movement was born and it had a number of successes (integration of the military and Brown vs. Board of Education as examples.) This success inspired other activists to demand change... African-Americans contributed in a very big way during World War II. These contributions were demonstrated at home and on the battlefield. After the war, African-Americans properly felt it was time for them to achieve equality with white Americans. During the 1950's, the modern Civil Rights Movement was born and it had a number of successes (integration of the military and Brown vs. Board of Education as examples.) This success inspired other activists to demand change for their agendas. Two examples of moveme...
Post a Comment
Read more

What are some tensions between men and women in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar?

Julius Caesar is a largely male-driven play. Calpurnia and Portia are the two main female characters, and they are both wives of major characters. Calpurnia is Julius Caesar’s wife. She makes public appearances with him, but there may be some awkwardness between them because of her inability to have children. He publicly tells Antony to touch Calpurnia to cure her of barrenness when he runs the Lupercal, a “holy race” and fertility festival. Calpurnia has... Julius Caesar is a largely male-driven play. Calpurnia and Portia are the two main female characters, and they are both wives of major characters. Calpurnia is Julius Caesar’s wife. She makes public appearances with him, but there may be some awkwardness between them because of her inability to have children. He publicly tells Antony to touch Calpurnia to cure her of barrenness when he runs the Lupercal, a “holy race” and fertility festival. Calpurnia has nightmares about Caesar’s death. She claims that she is not naturally super...
Post a Comment
Read more