1

Measurement of air humidity

The humidity of air is an important environment's property in many industrial
processes and technologies, as well as it affects a men's health. There is always some
moisture in the air.
Absolute humidity of air refers to water vapor in 1 m
3
volume of air

V
m
p
= , (1)
where m
p
is the mass of water that is contained in the air of volume V. As it follows from
equation [1], the SI unit of absolute humidity is kg/m
3
.
Amount of water vapor contained in the air is delimited by the point of vapor
saturation at each temperature. The humidity reaches its maximal value
max
at this point.
As can be seen from the table bellow, maximal value of humidity as well as vapor
pressure that corresponds to vapor saturation point increases with the temperature. When
the temperature of air with maximal value of humidity decreases, excess amount of water
vapor condenses (transforms its phase) into liquid water such that air humidity is equal to
its maximal value.
Relative humidity of air is the ratio of absolute humidity to its maximal
value
max


max

= (2)
Relative humidity is typically expressed in percents as
100
max
%

= (3)
Minimal value of relative humidity (0 %) corresponds to the dry air and maximal value
(100 %) corresponds to vapor saturated air. Relative humidity of air that falls between 50
and 70 % represents most pleasant environment for men.
2
Air humidity measured by psychrometer

We will learn how to use Assmann's psychrometer (Fig. 1) to measure the air
humidity. It consists of two mercury thermometers; first of them is called dry
thermometer and it is used to measure the temperature of surrounding environment t
1
.
The bulb of second thermometer, called the wet thermometer, is covered with a wet
fabric. Evaporation from the wet thermometer lowers the temperature of surrounding air
t
2
(i.e. t
2
< t
1
) by the latent heat of liquid-to-vapor phase transition. Difference between
the two temperatures (t
1
- t
2
), psychrometric difference, therefore depends on the air
humidity. Evaporation increases with decreasing humidity, which causes an increase in
temperature difference. For precise measurement, Assman's psychrometer includes a fan
that prevents water vapor from the formation of saturated vapor environment.

Fig. 1. Assmann's psychrometer

nasvan vzduch
dry
thermometer
fan
wet thermometer
temperature
difference
flowing air
wet fabric
air intake
3
Water vapor contributes to atmospheric pressure by the partial pressure. It is
defined as the pressure of a vapor in dynamic equilibrium with its liquid form. Partial
pressure of saturated vapor is constant for each particular temperature. Tab. 2 shows its
values for several different temperatures. Relative humidity of air determined by the
Assmann's psychrometer can be then calculated from the partial pressure of water vapor
p
1
(at the temperature t
1
) and partial pressure p
2
(at the temperature t
2
) via relation

( )
1
2 1 2
p
t t Ab p
= (4)
where b is an atmospheric pressure in pascals (Pa) and A is a psychrometric constant. Its
value for psychrometer used in our laboratory is A=0,00066 K
-1
.

Equipment:
Assmann's psychrometer, barometer, test-tube with distilled water.

Experimental procedure:
1. Read the temperature t
1
of the dry thermometer.
2. Wet the fabric that covers the bulb of wet thermometer by placing the test-tube with
distilled water into the opening underneath the thermometer for about 10 seconds.
Spin the string of fan in top part of psychrometer such that it will rotate during the
entire measurement. Watch the continuous decrease of temperature of the wet
thermometer and write down the value t
2
after it becomes steady.
3. Wait until fan stops moving and temperature of wet thermometer increases again.
Repeat the measurement two more times and record all the values into the table.
4. Read the atmospheric pressure b of the barometer.
5. Calculate relative humidity according to the equation (4) and express it in percents
(
%
). Calculate absolute humidity using the equation (2) and values from the
Tab. 2. Determine average values of
%
and using all three measurements.
4
Tab. 1. Temperature of dry thermometer t
1
, temperature of wet thermometer t
2
, partial
pressure of water vapor p
1
at temperature t
1
and partial pressure p
2
at temperature t
2
,
relative humidity , maximal humidity
max
and absolute humidity of air at the
laboratory temperature t
1
.
measurement t
1
[C] t
2
[C] p
1
[Pa] p
2
[Pa]

max

[kg/m
3
]

[kg/m
3
]
1
2
3


Tab. 2. Temperature dependence of the partial pressure of water vapor p and maximal
humidity of air
max
.
t [ C] p [Pa]
max
[kg/m
3
]
11 1307 10.010
-3

12 1400 10.710
-3

13 1493 11.410
-3

14 1600 12.110
-3

15 1707 12.810
-3

16 1813 13.610
-3

17 1933 14.510
-3

18 2066 15.410
-3

19 2173 16.310
-3

20 2333 17.310
-3

21 2493 18.310
-3

22 2640 19.410
-3

23 2813 20.610
-3

24 2986 21.810
-3

25 3173 23.010
-3


5
References:

1. Kopeck, F.: Physics for Students of Pharmacy I. Bratislava, UK 1999. 184 s. (in
Slovak).
2. Edition of Department of Physical Chemistry: Laboratory Practice in Physics for
Students of Pharmacy. Faculty of Pharmacy, Comenius University, Bratislava, UK
1991.
3. Oremusov J., Vojtekov M.: Determination of air humidity by psychrometer.
Manual for laboratory practice. (in Slovak)



Manual written by RNDr.J.Gallov, CSc.
English version prepared by N. Kuerka, PhD.