vapor pressure

noun

1. the pressure exerted by the molecules of a vapor, especially that part of the total pressure exerted by vapor in a mixture of gases, as by water vapor in air.

vapor pressure

1. The pressure exerted by a vapor on the solid or liquid phase with which it is in equilibrium. At pressures lower than the vapor pressure, more atoms or molecules of the liquid or solid vaporize and escape from the surface of the liquid or solid than are absorbed from the vapor, resulting in evaporation. At the vapor pressure the exchange is equal and there is no net evaporation.
2. Also called evaporation pressure
3. The pressure exerted by water vapor in the atmosphere.

vapor pressure

1. In physics and chemistry , the atmospheric pressure that would be exerted by any single component of a gas if that component were the only one present. For example, the vapor pressure of oxygen in the atmosphere of the Earth is the pressure that would exist if everything but oxygen were removed. The total atmospheric pressure is the sum of the vapor pressures of all the materials in the atmosphere.

Word History and Origins

Origin of vapor pressure¹

Probably earlier than 1895–1900

Example Sentences

If you recall some of your high school physics, you might remember a class on vapor pressure.

From Seattle Times

The researchers also compared fire occurrences to weather patterns and found clear associations between fires, high temperatures and vapor pressure deficit, which is an indicator of plant water stress.

From Science Daily

The water working up through the soil under the concrete created a vapor pressure that caused the paint to fail.

From Seattle Times

"Contrary to the nature of the pure elements, we have been mastering the use of mixtures of these elements that allow for low temperature growth of crystals with minimal vapor pressure," said Canfield.

From Science Daily

In general the differences in those averages were strongly associated with vapor pressure deficit or VPD, basically the drying power of the atmosphere.

From Science Daily