This higher tier covers Higher Tier: Calculating Latent Heat from Experimental Data within Specific Latent Heat for GCSE Physics. Revise Specific Latent Heat in Particle Model for GCSE Physics with 13 exam-style questions and 30 flashcards. This is a high-frequency topic, so it is worth revising until the explanation feels precise and repeatable. It is section 9 of 12 in this topic. This section is most useful once the core foundation idea is secure, because it adds the detail that pushes answers higher.
🎓 Higher Tier: Calculating Latent Heat from Experimental Data
In an experiment to find specific latent heat of fusion of ice, you might:
- Use a known mass of ice at 0°C in an insulated container
- Supply a known electrical power (P = IV) for a measured time
- Energy supplied: E = P × t (in Joules)
- All this energy goes into melting the ice (temperature stays at 0°C)
- Calculate: L = E / m
Sources of error: Heat loss to surroundings (use insulation), not all ice melting. To correct, run a "blank" experiment with no heater to measure melting from room-temperature heat alone.
Cooling curves: You can also determine L from cooling — the flat section on a cooling curve is where energy is released as a liquid freezes. Time × power = E = mL gives you L.
Practice questions for Specific Latent Heat
What is specific latent heat?
During a state change, energy is being supplied to a substance but the temperature does not change. Explain where this energy goes.