Water vapor
Definition
Water vapor refers to the gaseous form of water in the atmosphere. It is created through evaporation from bodies of water and plays a crucial role in the Earth's weather patterns.
Analogy
Imagine water vapor as invisible steam rising from a boiling pot of water on the stove. Just like how you can't see the steam but feel its warmth, water vapor is present in the air even though we can't see it.
Related terms
Condensation: The process by which water vapor cools and turns back into liquid form, forming clouds or dew.
Humidity: The amount of moisture present in the air, determined by the concentration of water vapor.
Precipitation: Any form of water that falls from the atmosphere to Earth's surface, such as rain, snow, sleet, or hail.
"Water vapor" appears in:
Subjects (1)
Additional resources (1)
Are you a college student?
Study guides for the entire semester
200k practice questions
Glossary of 50k key terms - memorize important vocab
Resources
© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.
AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.