What is latent heat?

Latent heat refers specifically to the amount of heat required to cause a phase change in a substance without changing its temperature. This concept is crucial in understanding various physical processes, such as boiling, melting, freezing, and condensation. During a phase change, the energy supplied or removed is used to alter the arrangement of particles rather than increasing their kinetic energy, which is reflected in temperature changes.

Choosing the option related to latent heat highlights the importance of energy transfer during these phase changes. It emphasizes that while a substance transitions from one state to another (for example, from solid to liquid), the temperature remains constant until the entire phase change is complete. This is essential in fields like meteorology and thermodynamics, where phase changes significantly influence energy distribution and temperature regulation in environments.