Minnesota Boiler License Practice Exam

What is "latent" heat primarily associated with?

1. Heat that is waiting to be released

2. Heat of a state ie liquid or gas

3. Heat that can be felt but not measured

4. Heat that shows on a thermometer

The correct answer is: Heat of a state ie liquid or gas

Latent heat is primarily associated with phase changes in a substance without a change in temperature. When a material transitions from one state to another, such as from solid to liquid (melting) or from liquid to gas (vaporization), it absorbs or releases heat energy known as latent heat. This energy is vital for the change in structure or state, which differentiates it from sensible heat, which can be measured by changes in temperature. The heat of a state, referring to these phase changes, captures the essence of latent heat as it represents the energy required to alter the state of a substance, enabling processes like boiling and freezing, while the temperature remains constant during these transitions. Other options revolve around either forms of heat that are directly measurable or do not accurately capture the essence of what's happening during a phase change.