Which process explains how heat from the sun causes liquid water to become water vapor?

• A. Condensation
• B. Sublimation
• C. Evaporation
• D. Freezing

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the physical states involved: liquid water and water vapor (gas phase).
2. Recall that heat from the sun provides energy to water molecules, increasing their kinetic energy.
3. Identify the process where liquid water molecules gain enough energy to overcome intermolecular forces and enter the gas phase; this process is called evaporation.
4. Contrast evaporation with other processes: condensation (gas to liquid), sublimation (solid to gas), and freezing (liquid to solid).
5. Conclude that the process explaining how heat from the sun causes liquid water to become water vapor is evaporation.