Class: Name: ( ) Date:

3e Factors affecting evaporation

Objective
To find out the factors that affect the rate of evaporation.

Background information 
1 When molecules at a liquid surface gain enough kinetic energy, they
may escape into the space above the liquid and becomes molecules of
vapour.

2 While fast molecules at the liquid surface escape, slow vapour

molecules return to the liquid. The net rate of evaporation is the
difference between the rate of escape and the rate of return.
Apparatus

1 cloth
1 hairdryer
1 electronic balance

Procedure 
Make sure the towel 1 Slightly wet a cloth and measure its mass using an electronic balance.
is not too wet. Wring the
towel slightly.
Record your measurement on p.2.

To obtain better 2 Lay the cloth flat. Blow it with hot wind using a hairdryer (Fig 3e-1).
results, turn off all the Find the difference in mass after 5 minutes.
air conditioners in the
laboratory during the
experiment.

hairdryer
00
12

wet cloth

Fig 3e-1

1
3e Class: Name: ( ) Date: 2a

Note 3 Repeat steps 1 and 2 by placing the cloth

Make sure the cloth
contains roughly the same (a) under cool wind,
amount of water.
(b) in a windless environment.

4 Fold a wet cloth and place it in a windless environment. Find the

difference in its mass after 5 minutes.

Results and analysis 

The mass of the cloth 1 Tabulate the results.
used here is 49.2 g
when it is dry. Mass of cloth / g
More distinguishable
Difference
results can be obtained in mass / g
at t = 0 at t = 5 min
if the cloth is hung up
instead of lying flat on a
Under hot wind 106.4 92.9 13.5
table.
Under cool wind 106.4 101.8 4.6

Windless 106.4 105.5 0.9

Folded, windless 106.4 106.1 0.3

Discussion 
About the procedure
1 Why should the cloth contain roughly the same amount of water in
each step?
This ensures a fair test. Only one variable should be changed in each step.

About the results

2 In which case does the cloth dry faster?
Under hot wind

3 How does each factor affect the rate of evaporation?

The rate of evaporation is higher when

(i) the temperature of the water is higher;

(ii) there is wind;

(iii) the water surface is larger.

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4c Class: Name: ( ) Date:

3 (a) In which flask is the water cooler after 10 minutes?

The dull black one

(b) Which flask is a better radiator of radiation?

The dull black one

Discussion 
About the results
1 What can you conclude from the experimental results?
Dull black surfaces are better absorbers and radiators of radiation than silvery surfaces.

Further thinking
2 A student fills two identical dull black flasks with the same amount
of water of different temperatures. She finds that the hotter the water,
the faster it cools. Suggest two reasons for the findings by considering
different transfer processes of heat.
The hotter flask has a higher rate of emission of radiation.

The hotter flask loses energy at a higher rate to the surroundings through conduction of

heat.

Conclusion
Dull black surfaces are good (good/poor) absorbers

and good (good/poor) radiators of radiation. Shiny or

silvery surfaces are poor (good/poor) absorbers and

poor (good/poor) radiators of radiation.