Phase Changes
Learning Objectives
- Students will be able to identify and name the six phase transitions
- Students will be able to explain what happens to particle arrangement during phase changes
- Students will be able to interpret heating curves showing phase changes
Core Concepts
- melting
- freezing
- evaporation
- condensation
- sublimation
- deposition
- latent_heat
Formulas
$$Q = mL$$
Heat energy for phase changes (L is latent heat, either of fusion or vaporization)
Units
| latent heat of fusion | L_f (J/kg) |
| latent heat of vaporization | L_v (J/kg) |
Interesting Fact
When water boils, the temperature stays at 100°C at sea level while the substance changes from liquid to gas
Key Scientist
James Thomson
Discovered regelation and the effect of pressure on melting points
Ancient Wisdom
Phase transitions as metaphors for spiritual transformation: same essence (particles) reorganized into different manifestations with new properties.
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