LATENT HEATS Meaning and
Definition
-
Latent heat refers to the quantity of heat energy either released or absorbed by a substance during a phase transition without a corresponding change in temperature. It is the heat energy that is either hidden or concealed during the transition between two states of matter, such as solid to liquid, liquid to gas, or vice versa.
In the case of a substance transforming from a solid to a liquid state, for example, latent heat is absorbed or required to overcome the attractive forces between the particles and break their structured arrangement. This results in the substance melting without an increase in temperature. The same principle applies when a liquid changes into a gas, known as vaporization, and when a gas changes to a liquid, known as condensation.
Latent heats can be further divided into two categories: latent heat of fusion and latent heat of vaporization. The former refers to the heat energy absorbed or released when a substance transitions between its solid and liquid phases. The latter refers to the heat energy absorbed or released when a substance transitions between its liquid and gaseous phases.
Latent heats are crucial in various natural and industrial processes, such as meteorology, where they play a significant role in the formation of clouds, precipitation, and atmospheric circulation. Additionally, understanding the concept of latent heats is essential in the fields of thermodynamics, heat transfer, and energy conservation.
Common Misspellings for LATENT HEATS
- katent heats
- patent heats
- oatent heats
- lztent heats
- lstent heats
- lwtent heats
- lqtent heats
- larent heats
- lafent heats
- lagent heats
- layent heats
- la6ent heats
- la5ent heats
- latwnt heats
- latsnt heats
- latdnt heats
- latrnt heats
- lat4nt heats
- lat3nt heats
- latebt heats
Etymology of LATENT HEATS
The term "latent heats" is derived from the Latin word "latens" (meaning hidden or latent) and the English word "heats". In physics and thermodynamics, latent heat refers to the amount of heat energy absorbed or released by a substance during a phase change without changing its temperature. The word "latent" in this context refers to the heat energy that is hidden or concealed within a substance and is released or absorbed during the phase transition.
