Latent Heat (Noun)
Meaning
Heat absorbed or radiated during a change of phase at a constant temperature and pressure.
Classification
Nouns denoting natural phenomena.
Examples
- The amount of latent heat required to change the state of a substance from solid to liquid is called the heat of fusion.
- The heat of vaporization is the amount of latent heat required to change the state of a substance from liquid to gas.
- When water freezes, it releases latent heat into the surroundings, which is why the temperature of the surroundings may rise slightly.
- The process of condensation releases latent heat, which is why a cold surface may become warm when dew or frost forms on it.
- In the process of evaporation, latent heat is absorbed from the surroundings, which is why the temperature of the surroundings may decrease slightly.