Why temperature stops rising even as you add heat
In short: When ice melts or water boils, the thermometer stays still despite a constant heat source. This video explains the physics of latent heat and how energy is used to change states rather than increase temperature.
To alter a material's phase while maintaining its thermal level, one must supply a quantity of energy known as specific latent heat for every kilogram. The video distinguishes between two types: fusion (melting and freezing) and vaporisation (boiling and condensing).
Students learn to interpret heating curves, where plateaus represent these phase changes. The core formula for these calculations is Energy (E) = mass (m) × specific latent heat (l). This concept is a staple of the 2027/28 GCSE Physics exams across most boards.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: GCSE Physics - Specific Latent Heat - Vaporisation & Fusion | Equation (2027/28 exams)
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