2006-08-08 21:19:23 · 4 answers · asked by Jasmani 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Engineering
They are called contrails and are caused by hot humid air exiting from the engines into the low-pressure cold air.
http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/wxwise/class/contrail.html
2006-08-08 21:27:26 · answer #1 · answered by Kookiemon 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Aircrafts burn hydrocarbon fuels (jet fuel, etc.). The hydrogen of the fuel combines with oxygen to produce water vapor and the carbon combines with oxygen to form CO2 or CO. About one gallon of water (as vapor) is produced per gallon of hydrocarbon fuel. At high elevations the water vapor condenses and is visible as a contrail similar to the exhaust from a car when started on a very cold day.
2006-08-09 09:26:48 · answer #2 · answered by Kes 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
AzN has the correct answer, sort of. It also depends on the humidity (moisture of the air). That is why sometimes you see it, and other times you do not. Kind of the same as a car in the cold weather, you can see the exhaust, and in the summer, you do not.
2006-08-09 04:25:46 · answer #3 · answered by Bear 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
its the hot air from the engines mixing and condensing with the cold atmosphere creating clouds
2006-08-09 04:23:10 · answer #4 · answered by AzN 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋