Ex. No.

8
DETERMINATION OF RELATIVE HUMIDITY USING WET BULB TEMPERATURE
AIM
To construct a wet bulb thermometer and to determine relative humidity using wet bulb
temperature.
MATERIALS REQUIRED
Thermometer, muslin cloth, thread, water
THEORY
Wet bulb Temperature is a measure of the amount of moisture, in the form of invisible
water vapour contained in the air. It is defined as the lowest temperature to which the air can be
cooled by evaporation. The drier the air, the more evaporative cooling can take place, resulting
in a lower wet bulb temperature, and therefore a greater difference between the dry bulb and
wet bulb temperatures.
Wet bulb temperature is the temperature indicated by a moistened thermometer bulb
exposed to the air flow. It can be measured using a thermometer with the bulb wrapped in wet
muslin. The wet bulb temperature is always lower than the dry bulb temperature except when
there is 100% relative humidity as water evaporates from the muslin cover into passing air and
absorbs heat from the thermometer bulb and mercury it contains. This makes the wet bulb
temperature a more accurate measurement of product temperature.
Wet bulb temperature is mainly used to calculate relative humidity of the atmosphere.
Relative humidity is the ratio of the partial pressure of water vapor in an air-water mixture to the
saturated vapor pressure of water at a prescribed temperature. The relative humidity of air
depends on temperature and the pressure of the system of interest. Regulating relative humidity
is important for human comfort, health, and safety; for the technical requirements of machines
and processes; and in buildings, vehicles, and other enclosed spaces.
PROCEDURE

Air temperature of the given region is measured using thermometer.

The bulb of thermometer is covered with muslin cloth and wetted with water.
Wet bulb temperature of the given region is measured using the modified thermometer.
Relative humidity is calculated using the formula.

FORMULAE

Saturated Vapor Pressure es= 6.112 exp

Vapor Pressure related to Wet Bulb Temperature ew = 6.112 exp

Actual Vapor Pressure e = ew - Psta (T Tw) 0.00066 [1 + (0.00115 Tw)]

Relative Humidity RH (%) = 100

where T air temperature (oC)

Tw wet bulb temperature (oC)
Psta station pressure (hPa)

RESULT
(i)
(ii)

A wet bulb thermometer was constructed

Relative humidity on ----.---.2015 was found to be ------------