Condensation

References & Edit History Related Topics

Images & Videos

Close-up of fresh green grass blades with clear dew droplets clinging to their tips.

Understand the process and the factors involved in cloud formation

What Is Cloud Seeding?

Diagram showing the phase changes of matter with three circles labeled solid, liquid, and gas. Arrows indicate transitions: melting and freezing between solid and liquid, evaporation and condensation between liquid and gas, and sublimation and deposition between solid and gas.

Figure 3: The two general cooling paths by which a group of atoms can condense. Route 1 is the path to the crystalline state; route 2 is the rapid-quench path to the amorphous solid state.

Learn how the Sun warms moist air near the ground and causes it to rise and condense on dust particles

Condensation: References & Edit History

More Articles On This Topic

Osborne Reynolds

Article Contributors

Primary Contributors

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.

Other Encyclopedia Britannica Contributors

Article History

Type	Description	Contributor	Date
	Article updated.	Manjishtha Bhattacharyya	Sep 09, 2026
	Modified link of Web site: ACS Publications - Ice Sintering by Sublimation and Condensation.	Aakanksha Gaur	Aug 21, 2026
	Add new Web site: ACS Publications - Ice Sintering by Sublimation and Condensation.	Grace Young	Apr 02, 2026
	Add new Web site: Chemistry LibreTexts - Evaporation and Condensation.	Gloria Lotha	Feb 07, 2026
	Media added.	Meg Matthias	Jun 03, 2024
	Add new Web site: Geosciences LibreTexts - Condensation.	Gloria Lotha	Mar 19, 2024
	Add new Web site: Live Science - How does condensation happen?	Gloria Lotha	May 22, 2022
	Add new Web site: Chemistry LibreTexts - Evaporation and Condensation.	Emily Rodriguez	Mar 28, 2019
	Add new Web site: National Geographic Society - Encyclopedic Entry - Condensation.	Emily Rodriguez	Sep 20, 2016
	Cross-reference added.	John P. Rafferty	Dec 01, 2015
	Added video that describes the path of a parcel of humid air from its origin near Earth's surface to the point at which it condenses to form clouds aloft.	John P. Rafferty	Dec 01, 2015
	Media added.	Amy Tikkanen	Aug 12, 2010
	Added new Web site: Encyclopedia of the Atmospheric Environment - Condensation.	Veenu Setia	Feb 05, 2009
	Added new Web site: Encyclopedia of the Atmospheric Environment - Condensation.	Gloria Lotha	Sep 20, 2007
	Added new Web site: Leicester City Council - Condensation.	Gloria Lotha	Sep 20, 2007
	Added new Web site: Diydata - Condensation.	Gloria Lotha	Sep 20, 2007
	Added new Web site: USGS Water Science School - Condensation and the Water Cycle.	Gloria Lotha	Sep 20, 2007
	Article added to new online database.	The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica	Jul 20, 1998