Water vapor in the atmosphere cools and turns into tiny liquid water droplets, forming clouds

• A. Condensation
• B. Evaporation
• C. Precipitation
• D. Surface runoff

Answer: (A)

Condensation is the process where water vapor in the air cools and becomes liquid. In the atmosphere, cooling lowers the air’s capacity to hold moisture, so vapor molecules cluster on tiny particles called condensation nuclei and form tiny droplets. When enough droplets come together, a cloud appears. This differs from evaporation (liquid to vapor), precipitation (droplets growing large enough to fall as rain or snow), and surface runoff (water flowing over land). So the formation of clouds from vapor cooling into droplets is condensation.