/*! This file is auto-generated */ .wp-block-button__link{color:#fff;background-color:#32373c;border-radius:9999px;box-shadow:none;text-decoration:none;padding:calc(.667em + 2px) calc(1.333em + 2px);font-size:1.125em}.wp-block-file__button{background:#32373c;color:#fff;text-decoration:none} Problem 48 Explain Why is the evaporation o... [FREE SOLUTION] | 91影视

91影视

Log out

Learning Materials

Features

Discover

Chapter 10: Problem 48

Explain Why is the evaporation of sweat from the skin a cooling process?

Short Answer

Expert verified
Sweat evaporation cools the skin by absorbing heat energy, lowering skin temperature.

Step by step solution

01

Understanding Evaporation

Evaporation is the process of a liquid turning into a gas. This requires energy, typically in the form of heat, which is taken from the surrounding environment.
02

Heat Absorption in Evaporation

When sweat evaporates from the skin, it absorbs heat energy from the skin and the surrounding air. This energy is needed for the sweat to transition from a liquid to a gaseous state.
03

Cooling Effect

As sweat absorbs heat to evaporate, it removes heat from the skin, causing the skin's temperature to decrease. This reduction in temperature makes the skin feel cooler.

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

  • Full Textbook Solutions

    Get detailed explanations and key concepts

  • Unlimited Al creation

    Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...

  • Ads-free access

    To over 500 millions flashcards

  • Money-back guarantee

    We refund you if you fail your exam.

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with 91影视!

Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Cooling Process
When we think about a cooling process, it's important to understand what actually causes something to cool down. In the context of evaporation, this process involves the transformation of water (such as sweat) from its liquid form into a vapor.
A cooling process fundamentally relies on the extraction of heat from a surface or an area.
  • When sweat evaporates from the skin, it absorbs heat from the body, reducing its temperature.
  • This transfer of heat is what makes evaporation an effective cooling process.
  • Additionally, the more sweat on the skin that evaporates, the more heat gets removed, enhancing the cooling effect.
This process is regularly experienced in our daily lives, particularly during exercise or in hot weather conditions, as our bodies naturally sweat to achieve cooling through evaporation.
Heat Absorption
To understand why evaporation cools us, we must delve into heat absorption. Heat absorption during evaporation occurs because energy is required to change water from a liquid to a gas. This energy, known as the latent heat of vaporization, is absorbed directly from the surroundings.
  • The skin, being the closest source of heat, provides this energy to the sweat, aiding its transformation into vapor.
  • This heat removal from the skin decreases the temperature, resulting in a cooling sensation.
  • Fascinatingly, this process is efficient enough to maintain our body's temperature even under extreme heat.
In essence, heat absorption during evaporation is a crucial mechanism, facilitating cooling by drawing energy away from the skin's surface to transform water into vapor.
Evaporation in Biology
Evaporation isn't just a chemical process but a vital biological mechanism, especially for temperature regulation in organisms. Within the realm of biology, evaporation plays significant roles:
  • In humans and many animals, sweating is a key function where evaporation is instrumental in regulating body temperature.
  • This process ensures that the body's core temperature remains stable, protecting against overheating.
  • Similarly, many plants rely on evaporation in the form of transpiration, which helps in water movement and cooling.
Importantly, evaporation as a biological process underscores the delicate balance of energy management across living systems. It showcases how vital processes like thermoregulation depend on simple physical phenomena such as the phase transformation of water.

One App. One Place for Learning.

All the tools & learning materials you need for study success - in one app.

Get started for free

Most popular questions from this chapter

Convert As a cold front moves through your area, the outside temperature drops by \(35^{\circ} \mathrm{F}\). What is the corresponding temperature change in (a) degrees Celsius and (b) kelvins?

A system consists of an ice cube floating in a glass of water. The entire system is at \(0{ }^{\circ} \mathrm{C}\). Thermal energy is then added slowly to the system, causing half of the ice to melt. Is the resulting temperature of the system greater than, less than, or equal to \(0^{\circ} \mathrm{C}\) ? Explain.

The Cricket Thermometer The rate of chirping of the snowy tree cricket (Oecanthus fultoni Walker) varies with temperature in a predictable way. A linear relationship provides a good match to the chirp rate, but an even more accurate relationship is the following: $$ N=\left(5.63 \times 10^{10}\right) e^{-(6290 K) / T} $$ In this expression, \(N\) is the number of chirps in \(13.0 \mathrm{~s}\) and \(T\) is the temperature in kelvins. If a cricket is observed to chirp 185 times in \(60.0 \mathrm{~s}\), what is the temperature in degrees Celsius?

\- A 155-g aluminum cylinder is removed from a liquid nitrogen bath, where it has been cooled to \(-196{ }^{\circ} \mathrm{C}\). The cylinder is immediately placed in an insulated cup containing \(80.0 \mathrm{~g}\) of water at \(15.0^{\circ} \mathrm{C}\). What is the equilibrium temperature of this system? If your answer is \(0^{\circ} \mathrm{C}\), determine the amount of water that has frozen. The average specific heat capacity of aluminum over this temperature range is \(653 \mathrm{~J} /\left(\mathrm{kg} \cdot{ }^{\circ} \mathrm{C}\right)\).

Which temperature scale has no negative temperatures?
See all solutions

Recommended explanations on Physics Textbooks

Fundamentals of Physics

Read Explanation

Waves Physics

Read Explanation

Translational Dynamics

Read Explanation

Magnetism and Electromagnetic Induction

Read Explanation

Famous Physicists

Read Explanation

Fluids

Read Explanation
View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.