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Water vapor facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Watervapor cup
Invisible water vapor over a cup of hot tea. The visible mist is actually liquid water drops.

Water vapor is water that is in the form of a vapor, or gas. It is a part of the water cycle. When liquid water is heated to boiling point, 100 degrees Celsius (212 F), it turns into vapor. Water vapor can also be produced directly from ice; this is called sublimation. Steam is water vapor, but clouds are liquid water. The amount of water vapor in air is called humidity and it affects weather conditions. In the cold, breathing out causes the water vapor in the breath to freeze.

Water vapor weighs less than air, thus slightly reduces the lift produced by an aircraft wing.

Water vapour is transparent. The small droplets that look white like mist are actually liquid.

Water vapour is a big cause of the greenhouse effect.

Water vapor is invisible but when it condenses it makes visible water.

Images for kids

  • Above the Clouds

    Clouds, formed by condensed water vapor

  • Dewpoint

    frameless

  • BAMS climate assess boulder water vapor 2002 - 2

    Evidence for increasing amounts of stratospheric water vapor over time in Boulder, Colorado.

  • Artist's Concept of Europa Water Vapor Plume

    Cryogeyser erupting on Jupiter's moon Europa (artist concept)

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Vapor de agua para niños

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Water vapor Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.