# Frost vs. condensation

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frost-vs-condensation/328309>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 28, 2005, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frost-vs-condensation/328309 "2005-10-28T13:48:31Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\
**Post date:** [October 28, 2005, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frost-vs-condensation/328309/1 "2005-10-28T13:48:31Z")

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When I came out this morning, there was frost on the front and back windows of my car, so I had to rummage around and find the scraper. On the side windows, though, the condensation was still liquid. Why are the less vertical windows colder than the more vertical windows?

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**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\
**Post date:** [October 28, 2005, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frost-vs-condensation/328309/2 "2005-10-28T14:55:58Z")

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WAG: The frost covered windows (mainly) face towards the sky (cold), the dewy windows face (partially) the ground or buildings (warm). Note how much colder you feel in the winter standing near a window than an insulated wall. How much heat radiates to an object might affect the temp just enough.

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**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\
**Post date:** [October 28, 2005, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frost-vs-condensation/328309/3 "2005-10-28T15:09:55Z")

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Hm, that makes sense – I’ve noticed in the past that sometimes there will be condensation on the window that faces the street, but not on the one that faces the sidewalk and the brick houses on the other side of the sidewalk.

Ain’t nature cool?

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**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\
**Post date:** [October 28, 2005, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frost-vs-condensation/328309/4 "2005-10-28T20:51:58Z")

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> [@twickster](#):
>
> Ain’t nature cool?

Well, I guess _parts_ of it are cool, on frosty mornings.