Condensation on Car Windows

When the temperature rises in the morning after a cool night, the air is warm and objects like car windows and windshields are still cold. When that warm air touches a cold surface like car windows, water droplets form on the cold surface. The forming of these water droplets is called condensation. You may also be able to see this on the outside of a classroom window!  

Possible Guiding, Compelling and/or Anchoring Questions

• Where else have you seen condensation take place? 
• What are some conditions for condensation to form?
• How does condensation relate to the states of matter (liquid, solid, and gas states)?

Classroom Suggestions

• Condensation can be seen through a lot of different ways. From car windshields in the morning, to windows in the classroom. You can even see it on a mirror after you get out of a warm shower. Students will be able to engage in this phenomena by relating to an experience they have had with condensation. 
• They will be able to investigate and think about the contributing factors that played a role in making condensation and so much more. 
• Condensation can be a starting conversation for a few different units or topics. You  could relate condensation to that part of the water cycle and how condensation is needed in order for clouds to form. Another way to expand your knowledge on the condensation topic is by talking about the states of matter (liquid, solid, and gas) and how condensation is the process of a gas becoming a liquid. Condensation is a great starting point for these topics and there are a lot of different ways to engage students in the conversation of condensation. 
• An activity that students will be able to witness would be having cups, hot water and ice on hand. Fill one of the cups two-thirds full of hot water. Take another cup, flip it upside down and place it on top of the cup with hot water. Then place an ice cube on top of the upside down cup. Condensation will begin to form at the top of the upside down cup, just like on a car window.   

Related Resources

• Britannica for Kids: Condensation: This is a great resource for students to understand what is causing condensation to occur. 
• Condensation: Gas to a Liquid: A great lesson to go along with exploring condensation.
• NSTA: Why Can I See My Breath on Cold Days?: This is a great at home lesson with informative descriptions about condensation.