Situation: Imagine that you have a small room full of air. There is no way for air to move in or out of the room, so it is a closed system.
You have measured the temperature of the air and have found it to be 75o F with 80% relative humidity. If the amount of water vapor that was contained in the air at that time does not change, but the temperature is decreased, would the relative humidity in the room increase or decrease and why?
2006-10-25 05:27:23 · 5 answers · asked by cak 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Homework Help
Kid.... take a breather ... go to mcdonalds.. or chucky cheese.. spend some time AWAY from the books
2006-10-25 05:29:22 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 7⤋
The relative humidity is the ratio of the actual concentration of water vapor to the maximum (or saturation) concentration of water vapor at that temperature and pressure.
If the temperature decreases, the air can hold LESS water vapor than before. So the maximum allowed concentration (in the denominator of the ratio) would decrease. Therefore the relative humidity would increase.
2006-10-25 05:31:08 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
The RH would increase because the amount of water that air can hold before it condenses out is proportional to the temperature. 80% says that it could hold 20% more moisture at that temperature. Reduce the temperature and the air can hold relatively less moisture, so the 20% capacity is reduced until the air is 100% saturated. That temperature is then the dewpoint for that system.
2006-10-25 05:32:33 · answer #3 · answered by Owlwings 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I am just taking a wild guess, but I would say the relative humidity in the room would decrease. When I think of humidity I think of rain and if the temperature goes down I would "guess" there is a less likehood of rain, I could be wrong.
2006-10-25 05:32:44 · answer #4 · answered by mom2abigsis 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Temperature decreases, RH increases
2006-10-25 05:35:42 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋