Enter the mass and heat energy into the calculator to determine the specific latent heat. This calculator can also evaluate any of the variables given the others are known.
Specific Latent Heat Formula
The following formula is used to calculate the specific latent heat:
L = Q / m
Variables:
- L is the specific latent heat (Joules per kilogram, J/kg)
- Q is the heat energy (Joules, J)
- m is the mass (kilograms, kg)
To calculate the specific latent heat, divide the heat energy by the mass.
What is Specific Latent Heat?
Specific latent heat is the amount of heat energy required to change the state of a unit mass of a substance without changing its temperature. It is a property of the substance and varies depending on whether the transition is from solid to liquid (fusion), liquid to gas (vaporization), or solid to gas (sublimation).
How to Calculate Specific Latent Heat?
The following steps outline how to calculate the Specific Latent Heat.
- First, determine the heat energy (Q) in Joules.
- Next, determine the mass (m) in kilograms.
- Next, gather the formula from above = L = Q / m.
- Finally, calculate the Specific Latent Heat (L) in Joules per kilogram.
- After inserting the variables and calculating the result, check your answer with the calculator above.
Example Problem:
Use the following variables as an example problem to test your knowledge.
heat energy (Q) = 5000 Joules
mass (m) = 2 kilograms
