So that's how small drops evaporate!

Assume that a drop of liquid evaporates by a decrease in its surface energy so that its temperature remains unchanged. What should be the maximum radius of the drop for this to be possible?

Notations:

  • T T is the surface tension.

  • ρ \rho is the density of the liquid.

  • L L is its latent heat of vaporization.


Adapted from JEE Mains 2013.
2 T ρ L \sqrt{\frac{2 T}{\rho L}} 2 T ρ L \frac{2 T}{\rho L} T ρ L \frac{T}{\rho L} ρ L T \frac{\rho L}{T}

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1 solution

Anubhav Tyagi
Jan 16, 2017

If the radius of the drop is reduced by d r dr then the potential energy will be reduced by d U dU and some of the mass d m dm will evaporate.
For this to happen, the loss in the surface energy of water should be greater than or equal to the energy needed to evaporate the mass d m dm .
For this,
d U d m L dU \geq dm L .
Here, L L is the latent heat of vaporization of water.

Now, d U = T d s dU = T ds , Here T is the surface tension and d s ds is the change in the surface area.
d s = 8 π r d r ds = 8 \pi r dr .
Similarly, d m = ρ d V dm = \rho dV , Here ρ \rho is the density of water and d V dV is change in its volume.
d V = 4 π r 2 d r dV = 4 \pi r^2 dr .
Hence, for evaporation,

d U ( d m ) L . T ( d s ) ( d m ) L . T × ( 8 π r d r ) L × ρ × ( 4 π r 2 d r ) . r 2 T ρ L . \begin{aligned} dU &\geq& (dm)L. \\ \Rightarrow T (ds) &\geq& (dm)L. \\ T \times(8\pi rdr) &\geq& L \times\rho\times( 4\pi r^2dr). \\ \Rightarrow r &\leq& \frac{2T}{\rho L}. \\ \end{aligned}

Therefore, the maximum radius for the drop to evaporate is 2 T ρ L \boxed{\dfrac{2T}{\rho L}}

It would be great if you could explain why is there a limit on radius.

Rohit Gupta - 4 years, 5 months ago

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Can you explain this?

Anubhav Tyagi - 4 years, 5 months ago

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No, that is why I asked you.

Rohit Gupta - 4 years, 5 months ago

On second thought, can we say like
If the radius is reduced by d r dr then the potential energy will be reduced by Δ U \Delta U and some of the mass dm will evaporate.
For this to happen, the loss in the surface energy of water should be greater than or equal to the energy needed to evaporate the mass dm.
For this,
Δ U d m L f \Delta U \geq dm L_f

Rohit Gupta - 4 years, 4 months ago

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@Rohit Gupta I too thought that way but that would give the upper limit of radius. Hence I avoided explaining that part. Since the question is from a standard examination , hence I did not right away report the problem. But after your support I modified the solution.

Anubhav Tyagi - 4 years, 4 months ago

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@Anubhav Tyagi I agree with you it is a mistake, i have filed a report for it.

Rohit Gupta - 4 years, 4 months ago

so maximum radius right??

Rohith M.Athreya - 4 years, 4 months ago

0 pending reports

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