Question

What effect does condensation on a glass of ice water have on the rate at which the ice melts? Will the condensation speed up the melting process or slow it down?

Short answer

Condensation increases the melting rate of ice.

Step-by-step solution

Describe what happens during condensation

Condensation is the process in which water vapor turns into water. Condensation occurs when the temperature of the nearby air is below its dew point. During this process, energy is released.

Describe how condensation speed up the melting process.

The energy released during condensation is expressed as;

\({\rm{Q = m}}{{\rm{L}}_{\rm{v}}}\)

Here,

\(\begin{array}{l}{\rm{Q = Heat}}\\{\rm{m = mass of the substance}}\\{{\rm{L}}_{\rm{v}}}{\rm{ = Latent heat of condensation}}\end{array}\)

So, heat increases with condensation. When this heat reaches the ice, its melting rate increases.

So, condensation speeds up the melting process.