Math Problem Statement

Saturated air at room temperature of 20 C has the capacity to hold 17.3mg / l of water vapor. If the absolute humidity is 12 mg /dl, calculate the relative humidity (RH %).

Solution

To calculate the relative humidity (RH), we use the following formula:

RH=(Absolute HumiditySaturation Humidity)×100RH = \left( \frac{\text{Absolute Humidity}}{\text{Saturation Humidity}} \right) \times 100

Where:

  • Absolute Humidity is given as 12mg/dl12 \, \text{mg/dl}.
  • Saturation Humidity (the maximum amount of water vapor that air can hold at 20°C) is 17.3mg/l17.3 \, \text{mg/l}.

However, we need to convert the absolute humidity to the same units as the saturation humidity, which is mg/l. Since 1 deciliter (dl) = 0.1 liters, we can convert:

12mg/dl=12mg×10dl/l=120mg/l12 \, \text{mg/dl} = 12 \, \text{mg} \times 10 \, \text{dl/l} = 120 \, \text{mg/l}

Now, plug the values into the formula for RH:

RH=(12017.3)×100RH = \left( \frac{120}{17.3} \right) \times 100

Let's calculate that.

RH=(12017.3)×100693.64%RH = \left( \frac{120}{17.3} \right) \times 100 \approx 693.64\%

This means the value you provided for absolute humidity seems unusually high, suggesting that this could represent an environment far exceeding saturation. If the numbers are correct, it implies the air holds much more water vapor than is typically possible at 20°C, possibly indicating a typo or misunderstanding in the problem.

Please clarify if needed! Would you like more details or another example of relative humidity calculation?

Here are 5 relative questions:

  1. What are common relative humidity levels in different climates?
  2. How does temperature affect saturation humidity?
  3. What units are used in measuring absolute humidity?
  4. Can air have a relative humidity higher than 100%?
  5. How do we measure humidity in real-world applications?

Tip: Always check that the units match across all given quantities before solving an equation.

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Math Problem Analysis

Mathematical Concepts

Relative Humidity Calculation
Unit Conversion
Proportions

Formulas

RH = (Absolute Humidity / Saturation Humidity) × 100
Unit conversion: 12 mg/dl = 120 mg/l

Theorems

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Suitable Grade Level

Grades 10-12