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Home > News & Articles > Latent Heat Formula: Definition, Formula, Types, Fusion, Vaporization and Facts
Updated on 25th May, 2023 , 7 min read
Latent heat refers to the quantity of thermal energy needed for a substance to undergo a phase transition. The primary role of the Earth's atmosphere is to transfer energy in order to maintain balance between the poles and the equator. To grasp how the atmosphere sustains human life, it's essential to comprehend the mechanisms of heat exchange occurring within it. One such mechanism is the transmission of latent heat during the process of phase transition or heat exchange. This segment aims to provide an overview of latent heat, its various forms, and its significance.
The table below shows the important highlights about Latent Heat:
Latent Heat Highlights |
Definition:Energy emitted or absorbed by a material during a phase transition |
Example: Melting of ice, boiling of water, condensation of steam |
Importance: Helps regulate temperature changes, acts as energy storage, used in industrial processes, involved in weather patterns and geological processes |
Unit:Joules per kilogram (J/kg) or calories per gram (cal/g) |
Formula: L = Q / M,where Q is the heat absorbed or released, m is the mass of the substance, and L is the latent heat |
Latent heat refers to the amount of thermal energy that is absorbed or released by a substance during a phase transition without any change in temperature. It is the energy that is required to change the state of a substance from one phase to another, such as from a solid to a liquid (melting), liquid to a gas (evaporation), or a gas to a liquid (condensation), or a liquid to a solid (freezing). During these phase transitions, the energy is either absorbed or released by the substance in the form of latent heat.
Latent heat is the quantity of heat needed per kilogramme to alter the state of an object in physics.
The MKS (meter-kilogram-second) method uses joules per kilogramme (J/kg) as its units.
The specific latent heat (L) of a substance is a measurement of the thermal energy (Q) released or absorbed per mass (m) during a phase change.
Mathematically,
L = Q / M
Where,
This equation describes the amount of heat Q that must be added or withdrawn in order for a mass m item to change phases. L records the object's particular latent heat.
The table below shows the types of latent heat with examples:
Type of Latent Heat |
Description |
Example |
Area of Application |
Latent Heat of Fusion |
The energy required to change a substance from a solid to a liquid state. |
The melting of ice into water. |
|
Latent Heat of Vaporization |
The energy required to change a substance from a liquid to a gaseous state. |
The boiling of water to produce steam. |
|
Latent Heat of Sublimation |
The energy required to change a substance from a solid directly to a gaseous state, without passing through the liquid state. |
The sublimation of dry ice (solid carbon dioxide) into carbon dioxide gas. |
|
Latent Heat of Condensation |
The energy released when a substance changes from a gaseous to a liquid state. |
The formation of dew on grass or the production of rain in the atmosphere. |
|
Latent heat plays a crucial role in various natural and industrial processes, including:
Latent heat refers to the energy that is emitted or absorbed by a material during a phase transition. The amount of latent heat involved in condensation, evaporation, freezing, and melting depends on the temperature and pressure of the material.
Answer:Latent heat refers to the amount of energy that is either absorbed or released by a substance during a phase transition without a change in temperature.
Answer:The unit of latent heat is joules per kilogram (J/kg) or calories per gram (cal/g).
Answer:Latent heat plays a vital role in weather and climate patterns as it is involved in the formation of clouds, precipitation, and atmospheric circulation.
Answer:The formula for calculating latent heat is Q = mL, where Q is the heat absorbed or released, m is the mass of the substance, and L is the latent heat.
Answer:Latent heat of fusion is the energy required to change a solid to a liquid or vice versa, while latent heat of vaporization is the energy required to change a liquid to a gas or vice versa.
Answer:Latent heat is used in industrial processes such as refrigeration, air conditioning, and distillation, where it acts as an energy storage mechanism.
Answer:Latent heat plays a crucial role in geology as it is involved in the formation of rocks and minerals through processes such as melting and solidification.
Answer:Latent heat plays a significant role in regulating the body temperature of humans and other animals by enabling the evaporation of sweat.
Answer:Latent heat can be used to store energy, thereby reducing the need for constant heating and cooling, and promoting energy conservation.
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