The dew point is the temperature at which moist air becomes saturated with water

Question

The dew point is the temperature at which moist air becomes saturated with water vapor. We can therefore represent how moist a particular parcel of air is by comparing its actual temperature with its dew point temperature.

We see the practical effect of reaching the dew point when on a cold day, we "see our breath" when we exhale.

Suppose it is -10 degrees Celsius outside and our breath leaves our body at 30 degrees Celsius, whereupon it mixes with the outside cold air in a one to one ratio (equal parts warm breath and cold air).

If your breath has sufficient moisture to have a dew point of 24 °C and the outside air has a dew point of -14 °C, will we be able to see our breath after it mixes with the cold outside air?

Show all your work, thank you.

Explanation / Answer

Yes we will be able to see our breath until it mixes with the air outside. As being outside, it will try to attain a temperature which is equal to that of air present outside. After mixing, as the dewpoint of outside air is -14oC which is lesser than the outside temperature, hence dewpoint will not be attained. Which means the air from our breath would not saturate.

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse T
• Subjects

Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.