[Physics] Would a gas “weigh” less than a liquid if they have the same mass

experimental-physicsfluid-staticsgasweight

Thought experiment: I acquired two boxes of the same dimensions and same weight. One box contains $1\ \mathrm{kg}$ of water at room temperature while the other box has $1\ \mathrm{kg}$ of water, but in steam form, because the temperature of the box is above $100^\circ\mathrm{C}$. The volume of the boxes is large relative to the amount of space the $1\ \mathrm{kg}$ of water would take (let's arbitrarily say $10\ \mathrm{L}$). Both boxes contain the same amount of air (at $1\ \mathrm{atm}$) which is why the second box has water in steam form at $100^\circ\mathrm{C}$.

I put each box on a simple electronic scale to measure their respective weights. Unsurprisingly, the box containing water comes out to be $1\ \mathrm{kg}$. But what about the box containing steam?

My guess: Electronic scales measure the amount of force being exerted on it, then divide that force by $g$, to get the mass of the object. I think the box with steam in it will be exerting less force on to the scale and therefore the scale will think its mass is less than $1\ \mathrm{kg}$.

Best Answer

First of all, it is impossible to have $1L$ of liquid water in vapor form in a $1L$ container. It is difficult for liquid form and the gaseous form to occupy the same volume. The gas molecules would be as close to each other as they were in the liquid form.

However, looking at your last paragraph, it can be inferred what you are actually asking for. I'll consider a very large box instead of a $1L$ box to answer this question.


What does a weighing scale measure?

A weighing scale measures the force applied on the weighing scale's platform by the test object.


Measuring the weight of liquid water

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Consider a hypothetical situation where the water exists only in liquid form. There is no vapour pressure. Assume that the box is heavy enough that effects due to atmospheric pressure can be ignored.

The force which the box applies is given by:

$$F = m_{box}g + m_{water}g$$

The scale will read $(m_{box} + m_{water})g$.


Measuring the weight of gaseous water

enter image description here

The gas inside the container applies a pressure on the sides of the container.

Pressure on the top of the container = $P_{top}$

Pressure on the bottom of the container = $P_{top} + \rho gh$

The pressure on the top will help in reducing the force applied by the box on the measuring scale's platform and the pressure applied at the bottom will help to increase the weight applied by the box.

The horizontal forces applied on the sides of the box by the gas will cancel out neatly to give a net horizontal force of $0N$.

The force applied by the box on the scale is given by:

$$F = m_{box}g + (P_{bottom} - P_{top})A$$

$$F = m_{box}g + (P_{top} + \rho gh - P_{top})A$$

$$F = m_{box}g + \rho ghA$$

$$V = Ah$$

$$F = m_{box}g + (\rho V)g = m_{box}g + m_{gas}g$$

If you have the same number of molecules in the gaseous state as there are in the liquid state, $m_{water}$ obtained in the previous case is equal to the $m_{gas}$ obtained in this case.

The scale will read $(m_{box} + m_{water})g$.

If you strictly meant $1L$ of gas and $1L$ of water, then the water will definitely weigh more as it is denser but this question would be very silly if that was the case.