Physics – 2.2.3 Melting, boiling and evaporation | e-Consult

Evaporation is a process driven by the kinetic energy of liquid particles. On a warm day, the temperature is higher, meaning the average kinetic energy of the liquid particles is also higher. This increased kinetic energy allows a greater proportion of the liquid molecules to possess the energy required to overcome the attractive forces between them and escape into the gaseous phase.

Conversely, on a cold day, the temperature is lower, resulting in lower average kinetic energy of the liquid particles. Fewer molecules have enough energy to escape, leading to a slower rate of evaporation. The relationship between temperature and kinetic energy is fundamental here; higher temperature equates to higher average kinetic energy, and therefore a faster rate of evaporation.