Problem Analysis:
The worksheet asks about the factors affecting the rate of evaporation, specifically in the context of Rita drying her wet towel. The key points to consider are:
1.
Surface Area: Evaporation occurs at the surface of a liquid. The larger the surface area exposed to air, the faster the evaporation.
2.
Rita's Action: She folded the towel in half instead of leaving it fully open.
Question Breakdown:
#### Part (a): Will Rita’s towel take a longer or shorter time to dry?
- When Rita folds the towel in half, she reduces the surface area exposed to the air.
- Since evaporation depends on the surface area, a smaller surface area means fewer water molecules can escape into the air per unit time.
- Therefore, the towel will take
longer to dry.
#### Part (b): Give your reason for your answer in ‘a’.
- The primary reason is the reduction in surface area. When the towel is folded, only one side is exposed to the air, and the other side is in contact with itself. This limits the number of water molecules that can evaporate simultaneously.
- Evaporation requires water molecules to gain enough energy to break free from the liquid state and enter the gaseous state. With less surface area, fewer molecules have the opportunity to do so, slowing down the process.
Final Answers:
#### Part (a):
$$
\boxed{\text{Longer}}
$$
#### Part (b):
$$
\boxed{\text{Folding the towel reduces the surface area exposed to air, which slows down the evaporation process.}}
$$
Explanation:
By folding the towel, Rita inadvertently decreased the surface area available for evaporation. This directly impacts the rate at which water molecules can escape into the air, leading to a slower drying process. Understanding this relationship between surface area and evaporation is crucial for solving the problem.
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of evaporation worksheet.
