ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Deposition (aerosol physics)

Deposition in aerosol physics is like when you blow bubbles and they stick to the table or a wall. In air, tiny things called particles float around just like the bubbles in soapy water. When these particles come close to a surface, they can stick to it just like the bubbles stick to the table.

In aerosol physics, deposition is the act of these particles sticking to a surface. This might include things like dust or pollution sticking to the walls of a house, or in a laboratory, it might refer to tiny particles sticking to the walls of a container.

Deposition can happen in different ways. One way is called gravitational deposition, where the particles are heavier than the air around them and slowly fall towards the ground or to a surface. Another way is called Brownian deposition, where the particles move around randomly because of the natural movement of molecules in the air.

Deposition is important to understand because it can affect the air we breathe and the quality of the environment around us. By studying how particles deposit on surfaces, scientists can learn how pollution spreads and how to prevent it from harming people and the planet.