I've had problems with this, too, every time I teach the "phases of matter"
topic with non-science majors. Calling solid -vapor and vapor-solid the
same thing is not the answer...too ambiguous. Actually, I've never heard of
"sublimation" being used for vapor-solid. "Condensation" maybe, but
"sublimation" was always solid to vapor. Perhaps we should distinguish
between "liquid condensation" and "solid condensation." For vapor-solid, I
suppose "vapor deposition" would do. Unfortunately this is a two-word phrase
which breaks the verbal symmetry. For the vapor-solid transition, how about
"frosting?" The students are familiar with frost, at least up here in the
north. I agree that the direct opposite of liquid condensation is
evaporation. Both evaporation and boiling are liquid-gas transisitons.
Technically, the opposite of boiling is also liquid condensation, but not
quite because the condensate is not boiling. No wonder the students go nuts.
Vickie Frohne
-----Original Message-----
From: Tim O'Donnell [mailto:odonnt@CELINA.K12.OH.US]
Sent: Wednesday, August 27, 2003 7:19 AM
To: PHYS-L@lists.nau.edu
Subject: Missing term