Thermal properties of matter

Internal energy

Internal energy is the sum of total kinetic energy associated with the random motion of the particles and the total potential energy between the particles in the system.

Heat capacity

Heat capacity of an object is the change of its internal energy per unit change in its temperature.

Specific heat capacity

Specific heat capacity of a material is the change of its internal energy per unit mass for each unit change in its temperature.

Latent heat

Latent heat fusion is the amount of energy transferred to charge a substance between the solid and liquid states, at constant temperature.

Latent heat of vaporisation

Latent heat of vaporisation is the amount of heat transferred to change a substance between the liquid and gaseous states, at constant temperature.

Latent heat of fusion

Latent heat of fusion is the amount of energy transferred to change a substance between the liquid and gaseous states, at room temperature.

Specific latent heat of fusion

Specific latent heat of fusion is the amount of energy transferred per unit mass of a substance to change between solid and liquid states.

Specific latent heat of vaporisation

Specific latent heat of vaporisation is the amount of energy transferred per unit mass of a substance to change between liquid and gaseous states.