Dew is tiny water droplets you see in the morning on grass, leaves, and other things outside. It's like tiny drops of rain, but it forms differently.
How Dew Forms
During the night, the air cools down. Warm air holds more water vapor (water in gas form) than cold air. As the air cools, it can't hold all that water vapor anymore. The extra water vapor turns back into a liquid—tiny water droplets—and this is dew! This process is called condensation.
Think of it like this: imagine a glass of ice water on a hot day. Water droplets form on the outside of the glass because the cold glass cools the warm, moist air around it. Dew forms in a similar way, with plants and the ground acting like the cold glass.
Where to Find Dew
You'll usually see dew in the early morning, especially on cool, clear nights in spring and autumn (fall) or winter. The best places to look are on:
- Grass blades
- Leaves
- Cars
- Other outdoor surfaces
Dew vs. Rain
Dew and rain are both water droplets, but they form in different ways:
- Dew: Forms on surfaces when water vapor in the air condenses.
- Rain: Forms in clouds high in the sky when water vapor condenses and falls to the ground.
Dew is a fun thing to look for in nature! It's a great example of how water changes from one form to another.
