What is Condensation: Concept Explained For Kids

At times it easier to explain a concept to a child by demonstrating it rather than just saying it. Children understand it better when they have a visual representation. For instance, the concept of condensation can be a bit difficult for a child to understand but you can create examples for better understanding of the child.

Condensation is a process where gas turns into liquid. But if you say that to your child, he/she may either not understand it or may not believe you. Don’t worry, you can demonstrate it in a simple manner at home.

Solid, Liquid and Gas
Start from the very basics and explain the 3 forms i.e. solid, liquid and gas. You can then go on to demonstrate the effects of heat on liquid like water. For instance:

• You can demonstrate how water turns to gas when it is heated
• The same gas when cooled turns to liquid i.e. water
• And when the temperatures are cooled further and frozen, the liquid turns into ice.

Once children observe this process, they will understand condensation.

Step by step demonstration
Any experiment is successful only when done in a step by step method, so lets have a look:

Evaporation

• Take a pot with water and put it to boil
• After a while the water evaporates and turns into gas, i.e. evaporation
• Explanation: When water is heated, liquid turns into steam i.e. gas

Condensation: Gas into Liquid

Take a glass lid and place it in the freezer for a while

Take out the glass lid after a while, it will be cold. And hold it 6 to 12 feet above the boiling pot from the above experiment.

When the stem hits the lid, it turns gas to liquid. You will see the rain effect

Explanation: Gas turns into liquid form, through condensation process. You can explain how rain is formed by this experiment.

Take a glass filled with water and with ice in it

place the glass on a piece of paper

Leave it for some time

After a while, you will find water droplets on the outside surface of the glass and the paper underneath would be wet. This is condensation

Ask the children to explain how it would have happened

Explanation: When water in the air touched the cold glass, it turned the gas into liquid.

With these simple home experiments you can demonstrate condensation to your child in a manner that is both fun and easy to understand.