Question

What is specific latent heat of fusion? Write three applications of latent heat of fusion.

Answer 1

1. Specific latent heat of fusion is defined as the amount of heat required to convert the unit mass of the substance from the solid to the liquid state without a temperature change.
2. Three applications of latent heat of fusion are:

2.1 When we add ice to a cold drink, only some of the ice melts, not all of it as the cold drink does not contain enough energy to overcome the latent heat of fusion of the ice.

2.2 During a snowstorm, weather becomes warm as every gram of freezing water vapour gives away 336 J of heat energy to the surrounding atmosphere.

2.3 Snow does not melt all at once on the mountain during summer as every gram of ice needs 336 J of heat energy.