Water vapor

High school (ages 12+)
Environment & Earth

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/water-vapor

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the formula?H₂O
2. What is water vapor and how does it become invisible in the air?Water vapor is the gas form of H₂O that forms when liquid water or ice turns into a gas. It is invisible because it has no liquid droplets. It moves freely in the air.
3. Why does water vapor act like a greenhouse gas?Water vapor absorbs infrared light and re‑emits it, trapping heat in the atmosphere. This keeps Earth warm enough for life.

Water Vapor: The gaseous state of water (H₂O), characterized by dispersed, independent molecules.
Latent Heat of Vaporization: The energy absorbed by water to change from liquid to gas without a temperature change.
Condensation Nuclei: Microscopic particles in the atmosphere that facilitate the formation of water droplets or ice crystals.
Dew Point: The temperature at which air becomes saturated with water vapor and condensation begins.