Curvature Effect - Examples

  • Q: what will happen to a drop 1.9 mm in size that is in a cloud where the RH is 100.05%? 

  • ANSWER

 

  • Q: what will happen to a drop 1.9 mm in size that is in a cloud where the RH is 100.15%? 

  • ANSWER

QUESTIONS FOR THOUGHT:

1.  At what relative humidity will pure water droplets of the following sizes grow by condensation:

a. 10 microns

b. 4 microns

c. 1 micron

2.  Explain why very small cloud droplets of pure water evaporate even when the relative humidity is 100%.