Latent Heat

Latent heat is the heat released or absorbed by a body or a thermodynamic system during a process that occurs without a change in temperature. A typical example is a change of state of matter, meaning a phase transition such as the melting of ice or the boiling of water. The term was introduced around 1762 by Joseph Black. It is derived from the Latin latere (to lie hidden). Black used the term in the context of calorimetry when referring to the heat transferred that caused a change of volume while the thermodynamic system was held at constant temperature.

In contrast to latent heat, an energy is called a sensible energy or heat, when it causes processes that do result in a change of the temperature of the system.

Thermodynamics
The classical Carnot heat engine
Branches Classical · Statistical · Chemical
Equilibrium / Non-equilibrium
Laws Zeroth · First · Second · Third
Systems State:
Equation of state
Ideal gas · Real gas
Phase of matter · Equilibrium
Control volume · Instruments

Read more about Latent Heat:  Usage, History, Specific Latent Heat, Table of Latent Heats, Latent Heat For Condensation of Water

Famous quotes containing the words latent and/or heat:

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    —Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel (1770–1831)

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