Question

Explain the meaning of the phrase: A body can absorb or receive heat and does not have to change in its temperature.

Answer 1

When we supply heat to the water, for example, the temperature increases until boiling begins. During the entire boiling process, heat is still supplied but the water does not raise the temperature until the last molecule of water is vaporized. From there, the temperature of the steam continues to increase.


The heat supplied during this process is called latent heat of vaporization.

Answer 2

This is known as latent heat.
For eg. Take the example of melting of ice.

We know that ice melts at 273K (or zero degree cesius), but when we have heated it to 273K, and heat is still being supplied, there will not be any change in the temperature of ice. All the heat which is being supplied by us is getting used up in changing the state of mater from ice to liquid water and hence no change in temperature is observed. This is known as "latent heat of fusion". Latent means "hidden". Similarly we have latent heat of vaporisation as well.