Define triple point of water.
Define the triple point of water.
The triple point of water refers to the particular temperature and pressure at which water remains at all its three states - solid, liquid, and gaseous.
The triple point of water is the temperature and pressure at which liquid water, solid ice, and water vapor can coexist in thermodynamic equilibrium. It is the single combination of pressure and temperature at which all three phases of water can exist in a stable state.
The triple point of water is 273.16 K (0.01 °C; 32.02 °F) and a partial vapor pressure of 611.66 pascals (6.1166 mbar; 0.0060366 atm).
The triple point of water is important in a number of applications, including:
- Calibrating thermometers
- Defining the Kelvin temperature scale
- Studying the phase transitions of water
- Developing new materials that can withstand extreme temperatures and pressures
The triple point of water is also used in space exploration to create artificial environments that are similar to the conditions on Earth. For example, the International Space Station has a water tank that is cooled to the triple point of water so that astronauts can conduct experiments on the water in a controlled environment.
