How is it that clothes can dry on the clothesline at temperatures well below freezing?

Question

mysterychicken · Answer

They can dry but they will stil be cold, due to the temperature. I think as long as there's wind outside?

mysterychicken · Answer

they can dry but i think they would still be a little damp, or cold?

DrBob222 · Answer

Drying is caused by the fact that water has a vapor pressure. Drying clothes is the same as leaving a spot of water on the dinner table. The spot of water will dry because the water evaporates. The water evaporates because of the vapor pressure of water. Water in clothes has the same vapor pressure at a particular temperature. Water, as ice, has a vapor pressure, too. Therefore, ice can still evaporate (although slower).

drwls · Answer

Water can evaporate at any temperature, even as ice, as long as the air is dry. A wind helps increase the rate of evaporation.

Take a look at the ice in your freezer icemaker after a vacation of two weeks or more. The ice cubes start to disappear, unless you keep making new ones