Visualizing vapor pressure a mechanical demonstration of liquid-vapor phase equilibrium

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

8-1-2016

Abstract

Researchers introduce a demonstration experiment that provides a vivid, mechanical analogy for the concepts of evaporation, condensation, and the temperature dependence of equilibrium vapor pressure. The demonstration is useful for conveying a conceptual understanding of these concepts but can also illustrate the essential concepts underlying the functional form of the most common expression for equilibrium vapor pressure. They demonstrate that at a given temperature, the rates of molecular exchange across the liquid-vapor interface must differ for a net transfer of matter to occur between the phases.

Publication Title

Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society

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