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Question

Difficulty: EasyWater Cycle and Oceanography

When ice and snow on high mountain peaks convert directly into water vapor without first melting into liquid water, what is this process called?

  1. A
    Condensation
  2. B
    Transpiration
  3. SublimationAnswer
  4. D
    Evaporation

Answer

Sublimation
Sublimation is the scientific term for the physical change in which a substance transitions directly from the solid state to the gaseous state without passing through an intermediate liquid phase. In the water cycle, this frequently occurs with snow and ice at high altitudes with low atmospheric pressure and dry air.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the initial and final states of matter described in the scenario.
The initial state is solid (ice and snow) and the final state is gas (water vapor), bypassing the liquid phase.
Recognizing the starting and ending phases is necessary to name the specific phase transition.
2
Recall the scientific terminology for phase changes within the hydrologic cycle.
The direct transition from solid to gas is termed sublimation.
Differentiates this process from evaporation (liquid to gas) and condensation (gas to liquid).

Key Concept

Phase changes in the water cycle (Sublimation)
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Water Cycle and Oceanography

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