Evaporation rate increases with temperature, surface area, and air speed

Steps:

• Higher temperature increases vapor pressure, accelerating evaporation.
• Larger surface area exposes more water molecules to air.
• Faster air speed removes humid boundary layer, sustaining evaporation.
• Compare options: C has the largest A (70 cm²) and highest v (5.0 m/s), with T (28°C) higher than A and B but lower than D; overall, C maximizes combined factors.

Why C is correct:

• C optimizes all variables per Dalton's law of evaporation, where rate ∝ (vapor pressure difference) × A × (1 + wind factor), yielding highest net rate.

Why the others are wrong:

• A: Lowest T and v limit vapor pressure and air renewal despite moderate A.
• B: Moderate values across all, but smaller A and lower v than C reduce rate.
• D: Highest T, but smallest A and near-high v cannot compensate for reduced exposure area.

Final answer: C