When you look up into the sky and see a commercia jet, many times you see a set of white trails that follow behind it. What exactly are those trails and how are they formed (scientifically)?
Thx in advance.
2006-11-11 08:20:12 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Other - Science
Contrails are condensation trails (sometimes vapour trails): artificial cirrus clouds made by the exhaust of aircraft engines or wingtip vortices which precipitate a stream of tiny ice crystals in moist, frigid upper air. Contrary to appearances, they are not air pollution as such, though might be considered visual pollution.
2006-11-11 08:21:49 · answer #1 · answered by DanE 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
combustion of jet fuel in air results in CO2 and water vapor. If the air is sufficiently cold, the water vapor condenses and freezes before it has a chance to diffuse and spread out, leaving a trail of ice crystals floating in the air.
Sunlight is scattered by these ice crystals, thereby allowing you to see their presence.
2006-11-11 16:26:36 · answer #2 · answered by arbiter007 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, if you are burning fuel you are producing water. The major component of the trails you see is water, liquid or solids depending on the surrounding temperature
A reaction will be something like this:
2C10H22 + 31O2 ---> 20CO2 + 22H2O
2006-11-11 16:29:22 · answer #3 · answered by Dr. J. 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
in addition to condensation trails, generally seenat very high altitudes, there are trails left by "dumping" fuel.
This is generally done to make a plane less dangerous when it lands.
2006-11-12 02:23:18 · answer #4 · answered by disco legend zeke 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would guess smoke from the engines
2006-11-11 17:25:08 · answer #5 · answered by Rayden 2 · 1⤊ 3⤋