What is evaporation?

Evaporation is defined as the process in which a liquid transitions into a gas. This occurs when the molecules at the surface of the liquid gain enough energy, typically through heat, to overcome the forces of attraction holding them in the liquid state. As these molecules escape into the air, they become gas, which is the essence of evaporation.

This process is common in everyday situations, such as water in a puddle drying up on a warm day, where heat from the environment allows some water molecules to gain enough energy to evaporate. The concept is fundamental in many fields, including meteorology, environmental science, and thermodynamics, as it plays a crucial role in processes like the water cycle and energy exchange in systems.