Latent Heat Definition

Steps:

• Recall that latent heat involves energy changes during phase transitions like melting or boiling.
• Identify key feature: no temperature change occurs during the state change.
• Compare choices: eliminate those mentioning temperature change or unit mass specifics.
• Select the broadest accurate definition matching standard physics terminology.

Why C is correct:

• Latent heat is defined as the thermal energy absorbed or released during a phase change (e.g., fusion or vaporization) at constant temperature, per standard thermodynamics.

Why the others are wrong:

• A: Incorrectly limits to unit mass, which specifies specific latent heat, not general latent heat.
• B: Describes specific heat capacity, involving energy per unit mass per degree temperature change.
• D: Defines sensible heat or specific heat, tied to temperature change without phase transition.

Final answer: C