Cloud Formation
What process turns water from oceans, lakes, or rivers into water vapor?
Evaporation
water changes from liquid to gas when heated by the Sun.
What happens to water vapor when it rises and cools in the atmosphere?
It condenses
water vapor turns back into tiny water droplets forming clouds.
What is the name of the tiny water droplets that form clouds?
Condensation nuclei or simply water droplets
What might happen if a cloud becomes very heavy with water droplets?
Precipitation occurs
Which gas in the air is necessary for cloud formation?
Water vapor (Hâ‚‚O in gas form)
What is the difference between condensation and evaporation?
Evaporation = liquid → gas
Condensation = gas → liquid.
What role does the Sun play in the cloud formation?
The Sun provides energy to heat water, causing evaporation
How do clouds form?
Water vapor needs to be cooled and condensed into liquid water droplets or ice crystals. These water droplets/ice crystals form on tiny particles (condensation nuclei ), similar to dust, that are floating in the air