Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Whales and thermodynamics

So, you think whales take in water through their mouths and spew it out their blow holes? Wrong!!!
Check out this article on whales:
http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2013/10/whales-dont-spray-water-blowholes/

This is a great example of thermodynamics at work. The air in the whale is both warm (due to the body heat of the whale) and is being compressed before being released (it has to push out the air - I imagine it has a diaphragm that causes additional pressure for expelling air). Warm air can hold a lot of water vapor. When the warm air is released, it mixes with cool air, which cannot hold as much water vapor, forming drops. It also reduces in pressure, which further cools the air as it expands.

The water drops in the spout from the whale are similar to when we breathe out in cold winter air and see clouds form, only theirs have more and larger droplets form.

1 comment:

  1. The information which you have provided is very good and essential for everyone. Keep sharing this kind of information. Thank you. vapor mitigation

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