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Latent Heat of Vaporization

Reference from the original Physics I textbook.

Latent Heat of Vaporization

Specific latent heat of vaporization is the energy per unit mass required to vaporize a liquid at fixed temperature. Condensation releases the same magnitude of energy; the SI unit is J/kg.

Related Glossary Terms

Heating Curve, Latent Heat, Latent Heat Equation, Latent Heat of Fusion, Phase Changes

Index

Chapter 7 - Latent Heat

Reviewed physics notes (1)

These corrections keep the original lesson’s purpose while fixing errors in the source edition.

  • Clarifies per mass and heat-transfer sign. — Reference 1

About this edition and its source ↗

Glossary and deeper reading · 1 refreshers

These editorial refreshers supplement the reading. Definitions and examples are added guidance; original source wording and recorded answers remain in their original context.

  • Latent heat

    Specific latent heat is the energy transferred per unit mass during a specified phase change at the stated conditions. During an ideal equilibrium phase change at constant pressure, energy can change microscopic arrangement while temperature stays constant. For example, melting ice requires energy even while an ice–water mixture remains at its melting temperature.

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