Latent Heat Formula:
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Definition: This calculator determines the latent heat of vaporization or sublimation using the integrated form of the Clausius-Clapeyron equation.
Purpose: It's used in thermodynamics to calculate phase transition energies when direct measurement is difficult.
The calculator uses the formula:
Where:
Explanation: The natural log of the pressure ratio is multiplied by the gas constant and divided by the difference in reciprocal temperatures.
Details: Accurate latent heat values are crucial for designing heat exchangers, refrigeration systems, and understanding phase transitions.
Tips: Enter the initial and final pressures (in Pascals) and temperatures (in Kelvin). All values must be positive numbers.
Q1: What units should I use for input?
A: Pressure must be in Pascals (Pa) and temperature in Kelvin (K) for accurate results.
Q2: Can I use this for any phase transition?
A: Yes, it works for vaporization, sublimation, and other first-order phase transitions.
Q3: What assumptions does this calculation make?
A: It assumes ideal gas behavior and that latent heat is constant over the temperature range.
Q4: How accurate is this method?
A: It provides reasonable estimates but becomes less accurate over large temperature ranges.
Q5: What if I get a negative result?
A: Check your inputs - pressure and temperature must both increase or both decrease together.