The temperature difference, per se, is not the governing factor. Condensation will occur when the temperature of the plate is decreased to the dew point. Thereafter, the temperature of the plate is not a big player.
A better experiment - and easy to do - is to start with a glass of cool water. Slowly add ice cubes, one at a time, while keeping track of the temperature of the water. Give the glass enough time to cool to the temperature of the water. At some point, water will condense on the outside of the glass. The temperature at which this occurs is the dew point temperature. You can then use tables to find the relative humidity from the dew point temperature and the air temperature. An aluminum tumbler works best for this because it come into equilibrium with the water faster.
Bob at PC
-----Original Message-----
From: phys-l-bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu [mailto:phys-l-bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu] On Behalf Of Savinainen Antti
Sent: Friday, July 02, 2010 4:58 AM
To: phys-l@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu
Subject: [Phys-l] Water vapor condensation
Hi,
a student of mine is doing a HS project in which she is seeking for a correlation between relative humidity and temperature difference of a surface and air. Her idea is to use a plate that is taken from a freezer and measure the mass of water condensed onto the plate within a certain time frame. Obviously, among other things, the mass depends on the area of the plate.
I was wondering whether of not any other properties of the *surface* besides the area, temperature difference might affect the condensing. Could you suggest a useful reference related to the project topic? AJP and TPT has already been
looked for.
Regards,
Antti
Antti Savinainen, Ph.D., B.Ed.
Adjunct Professor (University of Jyväskylä)
Senior Lecturer in Physics and Mathematics
Kuopion Lyseo High School
Finland
E-mail: <antti.savinainen@kuopio.fi>
Website: <http://kotisivu.dnainternet.net/savant/>
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