How does rain water evaporate without boiling?

370 viewsOtherPlanetary Science

We had a summer rain shower yesterday. Afterwards I could see steam rising off the street as the water evaporated. I could walk barefoot on that street before the shower and while the water was evaporating. If the water was boiling away, surely I wouldn’t be able to walk across it without scalding my foot.

What’s going on here?

In: Planetary Science

12 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

Air molecules in the air are constantly colliding with the water molecules on the street. This gives enough energy to the water molecules to break free from the other water molecules and become vapor. This happens until all the water has evaporated.

Now if it was humid… there is more science… that don’t want to type up right now.

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