a great amount of water vapor changes phase to become liquid water droplets in the clouds that form a thunder storm. Does this phase change release or absorb energy?
release
The phase change of water vapor to liquid water droplets in clouds that form a thunderstorm releases energy. This phase change is called condensation. When water vapor condenses, it releases heat energy.
To understand why condensation releases energy, we need to consider the concept of latent heat. Latent heat is the energy absorbed or released during a phase change without a change in temperature. In the case of water, when it evaporates from liquid to vapor, energy is absorbed and stored as latent heat. Conversely, when water vapor condenses back into liquid water, it releases that stored latent heat.
During the condensation process in a thunderstorm, water vapor molecules collide and stick together, forming tiny water droplets. As they come together, the latent heat stored in the water vapor is released into the surrounding environment as thermal energy. This release of energy warms the surrounding air, which helps to fuel the updrafts and turbulent motions within the storm.
Therefore, the phase change from water vapor to liquid water through condensation in thunderstorm clouds releases energy in the form of heat.