What happens when water vapor cools down?

• When water vapor cools down, it changes back into liquid water. This process is called condensation.
• This is the same as when you see drops of water forming on the outside of a cold drink on a hot day.
• Condensation can happen when warm air meets a cool surface, like a bathroom mirror after a hot shower.

Examples:

• When the air is cold at night, you can see dew on the grass in the morning. This is water vapor cooling down and forming tiny droplets.
• When making ice cream with a machine, the steam from the warm air outside cools down on the cold metal, creating liquid water.
• In the morning, you can see fog on the ground. This happens when water vapor in the air cools down and turns into tiny water droplets.

Fun Fact: Condensation is really important because it helps form clouds in the sky, which can lead to rain!

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