LATENT HEAT Meaning and
Definition
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Latent heat refers to the energy absorbed or released by a substance during a phase change, such as solid to liquid (melting) or liquid to gas (boiling), without any change in temperature. It represents the heat energy required to undergo the transition from one phase to another. This energy is either absorbed or released as the particles within the substance rearrange themselves during the phase change.
When a substance undergoes melting or solidification, the latent heat is known as the heat of fusion. Conversely, when a substance undergoes boiling or condensation, the latent heat is referred to as the heat of vaporization. These phase transitions occur at a constant temperature, as the added or removed heat is solely responsible for the state change and not a temperature change.
Latent heat is a crucial concept in thermodynamics, playing a significant role in the Earth's climate system, energy transfer, and everyday phenomena such as cooking, weather patterns, and refrigeration. It allows for the efficient storage and release of heat energy in various natural and manufactured processes.
Understanding latent heat is essential for engineers, physicists, and scientists in various fields, enabling them to design more efficient systems, predict weather patterns and climate changes, and improve energy utilization and conservation. By harnessing and manipulating the latent heat of substances, it is possible to achieve numerous technological advancements and optimize energy consumption.
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The amount of heat which a substance may absorb without an increase in apparent temperature, opposed to sensible h.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for LATENT HEAT
- katent heat
- patent heat
- oatent heat
- lztent heat
- lstent heat
- lwtent heat
- lqtent heat
- larent heat
- lafent heat
- lagent heat
- layent heat
- la6ent heat
- la5ent heat
- latwnt heat
- latsnt heat
- latdnt heat
- latrnt heat
- lat4nt heat
- lat3nt heat
Etymology of LATENT HEAT
The word "latent" comes from the Latin word "latens", which means "to lie hidden or concealed". "Heat" originates from the Old English word "hǣtu", which refers to the quality of being hot or warm. Thus, the term "latent heat" combines the idea of heat or energy with the concept of being hidden or concealed.
Similar spelling words for LATENT HEAT
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