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When a wet cloth is hung up in a hot wind in the desert,
Chapter 20, Problem 9DQ(choose chapter or problem)
When a wet cloth is hung up in a hot wind in the desert, it is cooled by evaporation to a temperature that may be 20 Co or so below that of the air. Discuss this process in light of the second law of thermodynamics.
Questions & Answers
QUESTION:
When a wet cloth is hung up in a hot wind in the desert, it is cooled by evaporation to a temperature that may be 20 Co or so below that of the air. Discuss this process in light of the second law of thermodynamics.
ANSWER:Solution 9DQ Step 1 of 3: The process of evaporation of water from the cloth requires energy to take water molecules away from each other, in order to from vapour during evaporation. This energy is supplied by the cold water contained in the cloth, so it cools. Meanwhile, the absorption of sunlight can only increase the temperature of the cloth, but it cannot lower the temperature.