"Gene Kearns" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 14 Jun 2006 11:24:06 -0400, Wayne.B
wrote:

On Wed, 14 Jun 2006 14:05:33 GMT, Gene Kearns
wrote:

No, but I've seen water vapor that was compressed perform work.....
http://tinyurl.com/jtwls

Steam is in a gaseous state, only when it condenses does it form
visible water vapor.

Have you guys got a link or source to support this definition?

Gene, I've looked, but can't find one on-line that clearly defines the
definition that I can understand. My basic understanding is from a
discussion I had years ago with a scientist who corrected my
misunderstanding of this subject and it has stuck in my head. Many people,
including myself before that discussion, think of steam as being the visible
fog seen over a pot of boiling water or the exhaust from the pistons of a
steam powered locomotive. It's not steam. It's condensing water vapor.
Steam is regarded as a gas because it obeys general gas laws whereas water
vapor does not.

RCE

www.eisboch.com