Page 1 of 5 HSC BASIC PHYSICS BY Rafiqul Islam Parvez, Lecturer, Chattogram Cantonment Public College Mobile: 01738144717

Humidity
Saturated vapour: At a fixed temperature, if the amount of vapour in a place is such that it cannot
accommodate more vapour, then that amount of vapour is called saturated vapour.
The pressure exerted by the saturated vapour is called saturated vapour pressure. Saturated vapour does
not obey Boyle’s and Charles’s law.
Unsaturated Vapour: At a fixed temperature, if the amount of vapour in a place is such that it is less than
the maximum amount of vapour that can accommodate in that place, then that amount of vapour is called
unsaturated vapour.
The pressure exerted by the unsaturated vapour is known as unsaturated vapour pressure. Unsaturated
vapour obeys Boyle’s and Charles’s law.

By increasing temperature a fixed amount of saturated vapour can be changed into unsaturated vapour.
By decreasing temperature a fixed amount of unsaturated vapour can be changed into saturated vapour.

At a fixed temperature the air of fixed volume has a limited capacity to contain water vapour. With the increase
of temperature the capacity increases. When a place at a fixed temperature contains the maximum amount of
vapour we call that place is saturated with vapour. When an air is saturated with vapour it cannot contain more
vapour, the vapour is then condensed to dew. With the decrease of temperature of a place the capacity of
containing vapour decreases. If the temperature is continuously decreased then the atmosphere will be
saturated at a fixed temperature by the vapour present there. The vapour present in air at that temperature is
then turns into dew. This temperature is the dew point.

Dew point: The temperature at which the air of fixed volume is saturated by the water vapour present
in it is called dew point.
Dew point actually measures how much water vapor is in the air.
The dew point is the temperature of air which is needed for condensation or dew (at that particular
temperature).
Significance: The temperature of a place is 30 0C and dew point is 22 0C, it means that at 30 0C temperature
the air is unsaturated by the amount of vapour present but if the temperature is lowered to 22 0C the air will
be saturated by the same amount of vapour.
The unsaturated vapour pressure at a place at air temperature is equal to the saturated vapour pressure at
that place at dew point.
Humidity: By humidity we mean the amount of vapour present in the air i.e. how dry or moist the air is. The
term humidity signifies the dampness or wetness of the atmosphere due to presence of water vapour.
Absolute Humidity: The quantity of water vapour present in one cubic meter of atmospheric air is called
Absolute Humidity.
Significance: the absolute humidity of a place is 5gm-3 means that at that place the amount of vapour per
cubic meter is 5g.
Relative Humidity: It is the ratio of the mass of water vapour actually present in a certain volume of air at
fixed temperature to the mass of water vapour required to saturate the same volume of air at the same
temperature.

R.H mass ofwater vapouractually

present ofairatt0C
inanyvolume
mass ofwater vapournecessary
tosaturate
thesame
volumeofairatt0C
Since P  hg 
hmg, HenceP m
V
R.H pressure ofunsaturate
dwater vapourinanyvolumeofairatt0C
pressure ofsaturated watervapourinthesamevolumeofairatt0C
But the unsaturated vapour pressure at a place at air temperature is equal to the saturated vapour pressure
at that place at dew point.
Page 2 of 5 HSC BASIC PHYSICS BY Rafiqul Islam Parvez, Lecturer, Chattogram Cantonment Public College Mobile: 01738144717

R.H saturatedvapour
pressure
atdewpoint
saturated
vapour
pressure
atair temper
ature
SVP at dew point = f and SVP at air temperature = F
R f . Generally relative humidity is expressed by percentage,
F
R  f 100%
F

R  f  P0  0  m
F P  M
Relative humidity is a measure of how much water vapor the air actually could "hold" at a certain
temperature.
The relative humidity represents how close the air is to saturation.
Saturated air will have an RH of 100 %. You need the RH of 100% to have rain form in clouds.
Significance: The relative humidity of a place is 60% means that 60% of the amount of water vapour required
to saturate that place at air temperature.
Hygrometer and Determination of Humidity
The instrument required to measure the humidity of a place at a particular time is known as hygrometer.
Wet and Dry Bulb Hygrometer
To determine the relative humidity of a place at a particular time the apparatus is kept at that place and readings
of the two thermometers are noted. Then using Glaisher’s factor finding the dew point the relative humidity
is determined.
Suppose temperatures indicated by the dry bulb and wet bulb thermometers are respectively θ andθ and the
1 2
dew point at that time is θ.
1 12
1 G(12)
 1G(12)
Weather Forecast
From the difference of the reading of the thermometer
One can forecast the weather.
Difference of readings of two thermometers –
(i) If the difference is less, air is wet
(ii) If the difference is large, air is dry
(iii) If the difference continuously to decrease very slowly, there is a possibility of rain.
(iv) Sudden decrease in temperature difference forecasts storms.

Mathematical Problems on Humidity

Easy Problems
Type: 01 Determination of Humidity using SVP

1. On a certain day if the temperature of the air is 30 0C and dew point is 22 0C find the relative humidity. The
saturated vapour pressure at 30 0C and 22 0C are respectively 31.83 mm Hg P and 19.83mm Hg P.
2. At a certain time the dew point of air is 12 0C and relative humidity is 80%. What is the saturated vapour
pressure at the temperature of air? SVP at 12 0C = 10.52 mm Hg P.
3. On a certain day if the temperature of the air is 17.5 0C and dew point is 14 0C find the relative humidity.
The saturated vapour pressure at 14 0C, 17 0C and 18 0C are respectively 1.199 cm Hg P, 1.44 cm Hg P and
1.55 cm Hg P.
Hints: for fractional temperature SVP,
f SVPatlowertemp change
ofSVPFraction
of temp
changeof temp
Page 3 of 5 HSC BASIC PHYSICS BY Rafiqul Islam Parvez, Lecturer, Chattogram Cantonment Public College Mobile: 01738144717

f fL  fH fL Fraction

of temp
tH tL
4. On a certain day if the temperature of the air is 18.6 0C and dew point is 7.4 0C find the relative humidity.
The saturated vapour pressure at 7 0C, 8 0C, 18 0C and 19 0C are respectively 7.5103mHgP,
8.2103mHgP, 15.6103mHgPand 16.5103mHgP.
Type: 02 Calculation of Dew Point
5. If the temperature of a certain place is 32 0C and the relative humidity is 50% what is the dew point of that
place? SVP at 20.25 0C and 32 0C are respectively 17.83 mm Hg P and 35.66 mm Hg P.
6. If the reading of the dry and wet bulb thermometers of a dry and wet bulb hygrometer are respectively 20
0
C and 12 0C. Find the dew point. Glaisher’s factor at 20 0C is 1.79.
7. The temperature of a confined place is 170C and the dew point is 120C. If the temperature decreases to 140C,
what will be the dew point? SVP at 100C and 120C are respectively 9.2103mHgPand 10.5103mHgP
Hints: for fractional pressure, dew point
t  tempatlowerSVP change of tempFraction
ofPressure
change
ofSVP
t  tL  tH tL Fraction
ofPressure
fH fL
8. The temperature of a confined place is 270C and the dew point is 150C. If the temperature decreases to 170C,
what will be the vapour pressure and the dew point? SVP at 150C and 140C are respectively 12.8103mHgP
and 12.0103mHgP
9. At a particular confined place temperature of air is 15 0C and dew point is 80C. If the temperature reduces
to 100C, what will be the changed water vapour pressure and dew point? SVP at 7 0C and 80C are respectively
7.5103mHgPand 8.1103mHgP
Type: 03 Determination of Humidity using Density
10. If the temperature of air is 20 0C and relative humidity is 40%, what is the amount of water vapour per
cubic meter of the air? The density of saturated vapour at 20 0C is 17.30 gm-3.
11. The temperature of a certain place is 30 0C and the amount of water vapour present per cubic meter of air
is 26 g. What is the relative humidity of that place? The density of saturated water vapour at 30 0C is 30.37
gm-3.

Type: 04 Determination of Humidity with varying air temperature

12. At 200C temperature relative humidity of a closed room is 60%. If the temperature of the room rises to
250C, what will be the relative humidity? SVP at 20 0C and 250C are respectively 17.4 mm Hg and 23.6 mm
Hg.
Hints: Vapour pressure at 200C, P1 = 17.4×60%=10.44 mm Hg
T1=20+273=293 K; T2=25+273=298 K; P2=?

Type: 05 Determination of Condensed water vapour

13. In a particular day, the temperature of air is 22 0C and relative humidity is 60%. If the temperature is
decreased to 120C, what part of water vapour will condense? SVP at 120C and 220C are respectively
10.5103mHgP and 19.8103mHgP
14. The temperature of air on a certain day is 23 0C and relative humidity is 50%. The temperature falls to
100C. SVP at 230C = 21.1 mm Hg P and at 100C = 9.2 mm Hg P. Find the fraction of mass of water vapour
that will condense.
15. The temperature of a room is 100C, humidity is 60% and volume is 2m3. What amount of access water
vapour is to be supplied so that the humidity of the room will be 80% at 20 0C room temperature? Mass of SV
at 100C and 200C are respectively 9.396×10-3 kg and 17.264×10-3 kg.
Page 4 of 5 HSC BASIC PHYSICS BY Rafiqul Islam Parvez, Lecturer, Chattogram Cantonment Public College Mobile: 01738144717

16. The performance of an AC before and after using in a Conference Room is given in the following table.
Input 300C R=90%
Output 200C R=50%
0 -3 0
[In 30 C temperature saturated vapour density is 30 gm and in 20 C temperature saturated vapour density
is 24 gm-3]
(a) What is universal gas constant? 1
(b) Why root mean square velocity is used to determine the velocity of a gas molecule? 2
(c) What was the density of air before using AC? 3
(d) How much water vapour will be condensed into water after using AC from the Conference Room of
100 m3 volume? Explain mathematically. 4
Type: 06 Determination of Pressure of Dry air
17. The temperature of the air at certain place is 28 0C and the air pressure is 758 mm Hg P and the relative
humidity is 90%. What are the vapour pressure and pressure of the dry air at that place? SVP at 28 0C = 28.35
mm Hg P.

Board Questions on Humidity

Ctg.B.2015: A meteorologist for preparing daily report on a day collected the following data through two dry
and wet bulb hygrometers placed in Dhaka and Rajshahi.
Place Reading of dry bulb Reading of wet bulb Glaisher’s factor at
thermometer thermometer air temperature
0 0
Dhaka 28.6 C 20 C 1.664
Rajshahi 32.50C 220C 1.625
0 0 0 0 0 0
SVP at temperature 14 C, 16 C, 28 C, 30 C, 32 C and 34 C are respectively 11.99, 13.63, 28.35, 31.83, 35.66
and 39.40 mm Hg P.
(c) What is the dew point on the day in Dhaka?
(d) According to the above information where a person feels more comfort? Explain mathematically.
J.B.2015 & Ctg.B.2016: One day the reading of a dry and wet bulb hygrometer were found 200C and 12.80C
respectively. Glaisher’s factor at 200C is 1.79. The saturated vapour pressure at 70C, 80C and 200C are
respectively 7.5103mHgP, 8.1103mHgPand17.4103mHgP.
(c) What is the dew point on that day?
(d) Give your opinion about weather on the day by finding relative humidity.

B.B.2016: Closed air temperature of an experiment of Jaflong is obtained 19 0C and dew point 7.40C. Due to
flow of coldness, obtained temperature of that place decreased to 15 0C. The saturated vapour pressure at 70C,
80C and 150C are respectively 7.5mmHgP, 8.1mmHgPand16.5mmHgP.
(c) Find the relative humidity of air of Jaflong.
(d) Due to change of temperature whether the dew point of that closed air will change or not – give your
opinion with mathematical analysis.
S.B. 2016: Science student Joyti got temperature of midday 320C with the help of Hygrometer. She got relative
humidity of that day 75% by knowing dew point 10 0C. Again she found the temperature in evening of that
day 200C. SVP at 100C and 200C are respectively 9.22103mHgPand 17.54 103mHgP.
(c) Find the SVP at midday temperature.
(d) Joyti seemed that evening sweating dry up quickly in compare to midday. Opine mathematically.
Din.B.2106: The temperature of a day in Rajshahi is 35 0C and relative humidity is 50. At the same time the
reading of dry and wet bulb thermometer in Cox’s Bazar are respectively 35 0C and 300C. Glaisher’s factor at
350C is 1.60. SVP at 260C, 280C and 350C are respectively 25.21, 28.35 and 42.16 mm Hg P.
(c) Find the dew point in Cox’s Bazar
Page 5 of 5 HSC BASIC PHYSICS BY Rafiqul Islam Parvez, Lecturer, Chattogram Cantonment Public College Mobile: 01738144717

(d) Though the temperature in Cox’s Bazar is same, what is the reason a person feel more discomfort than
Rajshahi? Opine with mathematical analysis.
S.B. 2017: The temperature of a room is 320C, dew point is 140C and relative humidity is 48%. Outside the
room the temperature is 110C and relative humidity is 70%. SVP at 320C and 110C respectively 33.6 mm Hg
and 9.8 mm Hg. Glaisher’s constant at 320C is 1.63.
(c) What will be the reading of wet and dry bulb hygrometer shown at that room?
(d) If the window of the room is opened then in what direction water vapour will flow? Opine mathematically.
D.B.2017: One day in a laboratory a wet and dry bulb hygrometer shows the reading of the dry bulb is 30 0C
and the reading of wet bulb is 280C. The value of vapour pressure and Glaisher’s have been given below at
different temperatures.
Temperature Saturated vapour Pressure (m Hg ) Glaisher’s factor
0 -3
26 C 25.21×10 1.69
280C 28.35×10-3 1.67
0 -3
29 C 29.93×10 1.66
0 -3
30 C 31.83×10 1.65
(c) Find the relative humidity on that day in the laboratory.
(d) If the temperature falls suddenly by 10C what will be the change of dew point on that day? Analyze
mathematically.
R.B.2017: Head of the department of physics entering the office room saw that reading of dry bulb hygrometer
is 300C and on that day relative humidity was 75%. By switching on AC he reduced the temperature of the
room to 230C. Then the reading of wet bulb was 14.760C. Glaisher’s factor at 300C and 230C are respectively
1.65 and 1.74. SVP at 300C, 230C, 80C and 90C are respectively 29.92 mm, 20.24 mm, 8.92 mm and 9.22 mm
Hg.
(c) In the evening on that day if the temperature falls to 23 0C, then what fraction of the mass of water vapour
in air would condense?
(d) Inside the room when AC was ON, why does the departmental head sir feel comfort? Explain
mathematically.
CTG.R.C.B.B 2018:

Place Dry bulb thermometer reading Wet bulb thermometer reading

Cumilla 200C 120C

Place Air temperature Dew point Temperature SVP(m Hg P)

5.680C 6.856×10-3
Khulna 200C 8.50C
80C 8.04×10-3
90C 8.61×10-3
(c) What is the dew point at Cumilla? G at 200C = 1.79 200C 17.6×10-3
(d) According to the stem which place will be more humid?
Opine with mathematical analysis.
Din.B. 2019: At room temperature in a definite place a cylinder of volume 0.6 m 3 is filled up with 800 g
methane (CH4) gas with pressure 202650 Pa. A teacher said to his students that the dew point of that place is
11.50C and there is a possibility of rain if the relative humidity of that place is more than 60%. SVP at 11 0C,
120C, 190C and 200C are respectively 9.84 mm, 10.52 mm, 16.46 mm and 17.54 mm. The molecular mass of
methane is 16 g/cc.
(c) Find the room temperature of that place.
(d) Is there any possibility of raining at the place of the stem? Analyze mathematically.