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Latent Heat

Definition

Latent heat is the energy absorbed or released by a substance during a phase change, such as melting or boiling, that occurs without changing its temperature.

Analogy

Think of latent heat like packing for a vacation. The suitcase (the substance) can hold a certain amount of clothes (energy). When you pack your suitcase, it doesn't get bigger (temperature stays the same), but it does get heavier (absorbs energy). This is similar to how substances absorb energy during phase changes without changing their temperature.

Related terms

Heat Capacity: The amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of an object by one degree Celsius.

Enthalpy: A measure of total energy in a thermodynamic system. It includes the internal energy, which is the energy required to create a system, and the amount of energy required to make room for it by displacing its environment and establishing its volume and pressure.

Phase Change: A transition between solid, liquid and gas phases of matter. It's usually caused by changes in pressure or temperature.