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Name: Robert
Status: other
Age: 40s
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: Thursday, August 22, 2002
Question:
Dear sir,

I was taught in my high school physics class, while experimenting with a whistler type tea kettle, that steam is the invisible matter that exits at the hole and a fraction of an inch later it cools, condenses and is just water vapor. My daughter's Third Grade teacher told her this is wrong and that the portion that you can see is steam. If you can help settle this, I would appreciate it greatly.

Replies:
Water vapor (steam) is colorless, and the gas that is IMMEDIATELY outside of the kettle spout.

The "cloud" or mist is water vapor that has condensed into liquid. It often takes on a foggy appearance.

---Nathan A. Unterman


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