Thermal Properties of Materials

Question 1

What is the definition for specific latent heat?

Answer 1

The specific latent heat of fusion or vaporisation is the quantity of thermal energy required to change the state of 1kg of a substance.

Question 2

How do you measure specific latent heat of a solid?

Answer 2

1) Put a heating coil and equal masses of ice in two funnels above beakers.
2) Turn on one heating coil for three minutes. Record the energy transferred in the three minutes.
3) After three minutes, measure mass of water collected in beakers. Find difference in masses to get mass of ice melted solely due to presence of heater.
4) L = E / m

Question 3

How do you measure specific latent heat of liquid?

Answer 3

Boil water in a distilling flask, condense the vapour given off and divide the energy transferred by the mass of condensed water collected.