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Evaporation Definition

Evaporation is when a liquid turns into a gas. For example, water heats up and rises as vapor on hot days.

View Lesson on Water Cycle (3-5 Version)
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Water Cycle (3-5 Version)

LESSON MATERIALSmove

Fun Facts

  • Water is not gone when it evaporates, it is just in a different state that we cannot see.
  • Water does not only evaporate for bodies of water, it also evaporates from land.
  • Drying clothes outside relies on evaporation and happens faster on hot days.

Why Do We Need To Know About Evaporation

Learning about evaporation helps you understand how everyday things like clothes dryers work. For example, an outdoor clothesline uses evaporation to dry clothes. This idea is also used to clean water through a process called distillation, where water is turned into vapor and then cooled to get rid of dirt and germs. This is important for jobs in keeping the environment safe and in creating new chemicals.

Evaporation is also a big part of the water cycle, which affects the weather and climate. This is crucial for weather forecasters to predict weather. Knowing about evaporation helps in making models to teach about how the Earth works. This shows evaporation’s role in many areas and subjects.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do we know there is water vapor in the air?
Some evidence that there is water vapor in the air include clouds, feeling moisture on our skin on a humid day, and seeing droplets form on the outside surface of cold drinks (condensation).
What causes water to change from a vapor to a liquid, or a liquid to a solid?
Water changes form in response to changing temperatures. When the temperature becomes colder, water vapor becomes liquid water. When the temperature becomes warmer, liquid water becomes water vapor.
Does water become cleaner when it evaporates into a water vapor? Why or Why not?
Yes, generally, water becomes cleaner when it evaporates. Particles in water typically do not evaporate into vapor when water does, so particles are left behind when water vapor rises.
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