1. What is Latent Heat?

Latent heat is the heat energy absorbed or released by a substance during a phase change without changing its temperature. It's a crucial concept in thermodynamics and heat transfer calculations.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the latent heat equation:

Where:

• \( q \) — Heat energy (Joules)
• \( m \) — Mass of the substance (kg)
• \( l \) — Specific latent heat (J/kg)

Explanation: The equation calculates the total energy required for a phase change based on the substance's mass and its specific latent heat value.

3. Importance of Latent Heat Calculation

Details: Calculating latent heat is essential for designing heating/cooling systems, understanding weather phenomena, and various industrial processes involving phase changes.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter mass in kilograms and latent heat in Joules per kilogram. Both values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's the difference between latent and sensible heat?
A: Latent heat involves energy changes during phase transitions without temperature change, while sensible heat changes temperature without phase change.

Q2: What are typical latent heat values?
A: For water: latent heat of fusion is 334 kJ/kg, latent heat of vaporization is 2260 kJ/kg at 100°C.

Q3: Why is latent heat important in meteorology?
A: It drives weather systems as water changes phase between vapor, liquid, and ice in the atmosphere.

Q4: How does pressure affect latent heat?
A: Generally, latent heat decreases with increasing pressure, especially for vaporization.

Q5: Can this calculator be used for any substance?
A: Yes, as long as you have the correct specific latent heat value for the substance and conditions.