What is condensation?

Condensation is the change of a substance from its gas phase into a liquid, the opposite of evaporation. It happens when a gas is cooled or compressed so that its molecules slow down and clump together. In everyday life, condensation is most familiar as water vapour in the air turning into liquid water: dew forming on grass, mist on a cold window, or droplets on a cold drink. It is also a key stage in the water cycle, where rising water vapour cools and condenses into the tiny droplets that make up clouds. When a gas condenses it releases energy, called latent heat, which helps power storms and weather systems.