The statistical rate theory expression for the rate of evaporation indicates that this rate depends on the chemical potential and temperature discontinuities at the liquid-vapor interface. In an approximately isothermal system in which the vapor phase is in local equilibrium, the chemical potential discontinuity is predicted to increase as the gravitational potential energy at the interface increases, and as a result, to increase the evaporation rate. An experiment has been performed to investigate this prediction. The results are found to support the predicted increase in the evaporation rate with increases in the gravitational potential energy.
展开▼
