Republic of the Philippines

Department of Education
REGION VIII (EASTERN VISAYAS)
SCHOOLS DIVISION OF BORONGAN CITY
EASTERN SAMAR NATIONAL COMPREHENSIVE HIGH SCHOOL
Alang-Alang, Borongan City, Eastern Samar

Module 2 in Physics 2
Calculating Heat for Temperature Change and Phase Change

Welcome to this module! In our previous lesson, we explored how heat

moves from one place to another. Now, we will learn how to measure that
heat. Have you ever wondered how much energy it takes to boil a pot of
water? Or why a cold drink sweats on a hot day? The answers lie in
understanding how much heat is required to change the temperature of a
substance or to change its phase entirely. By the end of this module, you will
be able to calculate the exact amount of heat needed for these processes
using simple but powerful formulas. Let's get started!

Objectives
By the end of this self-study module, you should be able to:
1. Differentiate between temperature change and phase change.
2. Identify the specific heat capacity of common substances.
3. Identify the latent heat of fusion and vaporization of common
substances.
4. Calculate the amount of heat needed for a temperature change
using the formula Q = mcΔT.
5. Calculate the amount of heat needed for a phase change using the
formulas Q = mLf and Q = mLv.

Background Discussion
Before we begin calculating, we must understand the two different ways
heat affects matter. Imagine you have an ice cube. If you add heat to it,
one of two things will happen, depending on the situation:
1. The ice cube gets warmer (temperature change).
2. The ice cube melts into liquid water (phase change).
These two processes require different calculations because they involve
different types of energy.

Temperature Change vs. Phase Change

Temperature Change: When you add heat to a substance and its
temperature rises, the heat is increasing the kinetic energy of the molecules.
They move faster. This type of heat is called sensible heat because you can
sense (measure) the temperature change with a thermometer. Every
substance requires a different amount of heat to raise its temperature. This
property is called specific heat capacity.

Eastern Samar National Comprehensive High School

Alang-Alang, Borongan City, Eastern Samar
E-mail Add.: 303500@[Link] / esnchs@[Link]
Phase Change: When you add heat to a substance and it changes from solid
to liquid (melting) or liquid to gas (vaporization), the temperature does NOT
change. The heat energy is used to overcome the forces holding the
molecules together in their current phase. This type of heat is called latent
heat (hidden heat) because the temperature remains constant, so the heat
seems "hidden." Each substance has two latent heat values: one for
melting/freezing and one for vaporization/condensation.

Key Concepts and Definitions

• Specific Heat Capacity (c): The amount of heat required to raise the
temperature of 1 kilogram of a substance by 1 degree Celsius (or 1
Kelvin). Its unit is J/kg°C (or J/kg·K). Water has a very high specific heat
capacity (4186 J/kg°C), meaning it takes a lot of energy to heat it up.

• Latent Heat of Fusion (Lf): The amount of heat required to change 1

kilogram of a substance from solid to liquid (melt) at its melting point,
without changing its temperature. Its unit is J/kg.

• Latent Heat of Vaporization (Lv): The amount of heat required to

change 1 kilogram of a substance from liquid to gas (vaporize) at its
boiling point, without changing its temperature. Its unit is J/kg.

The Formulas
We use two main formulas for these calculations:
1. For Temperature Change:
𝑄 = 𝑚𝑐Δ𝑇
Where:
o Q = heat energy (in Joules, J)
o m = mass of the substance (in kilograms, kg)
o c = specific heat capacity (in J/kg°C)
o ΔT = change in temperature (Tfinal - Tinitial, in °C)

2. For Phase Change:

𝑄 = 𝑚𝐿
Where:
o Q = heat energy (in Joules, J)
o m = mass of the substance (in kilograms, kg)
o L = latent heat (either Lf for melting/freezing or Lv for
vaporization/condensation, in J/kg)

Sometimes, a problem will require both. For example, to turn ice at -

10°C into steam at 110°C, you must calculate heat for: warming the ice,
melting the ice, warming the water, vaporizing the water, and warming the
steam. We will practice these step-by-step.

Eastern Samar National Comprehensive High School

Alang-Alang, Borongan City, Eastern Samar
E-mail Add.: 303500@[Link] / esnchs@[Link]
Calculating Heat for Temperature Change and Phase Change
Understanding how to calculate heat is essential in science and
engineering. Whether you are designing a cooling system, cooking a meal, or
studying climate change, these calculations allow you to predict how much
energy is involved. Let us explore each type of calculation with sample
problems.
1. Calculating Heat for Temperature Change (Q = mcΔT)
When a substance changes temperature, the heat required depends on
its mass, its specific heat capacity, and how much its temperature
changes. Water is a common substance with a high specific heat capacity
of 4186 J/kg°C, while metals like aluminum have much lower values (900
J/kg°C).
Sample Problem 1: Heating Water
How much heat is needed to raise the temperature of 2.0 kg of water from
20°C to 50°C? The specific heat capacity of water is 4186 J/kg°C.
Step 1: Identify the given values.
• m = 2.0 kg
• c = 4186 J/kg°C
• ΔT = Tfinal - Tinitial = 50°C - 20°C = 30°C
Step 2: Identify the unknown value.
• Q=?
Step 3: Apply the formula Q = mcΔT.
• Q = mcΔT
• Q = (2.0 kg) × (4186 J/kg°C) × (30°C)
• Q = 251,160 Joules = 2.51 × 10⁵ J

2. Calculating Heat for Phase Change (Q = mL)

When a substance changes phase, the temperature remains constant. All
the heat energy goes into breaking or forming molecular bonds. For
melting ice, the latent heat of fusion for water is 3.34 × 10⁵ J/kg. For
vaporizing water, the latent heat of vaporization is 2.26 × 10⁶ J/kg.
Sample Problem 2: Melting Ice
How much heat is needed to completely melt 0.5 kg of ice at 0°C? The
latent heat of fusion of ice is 3.34 × 10⁵ J/kg.
Step 1: Identify the given values.
• m = 0.5 kg
• Lf = 3.34 × 10⁵ J/kg
• Note: The temperature does not change, so we use the phase
change formula.
Step 2: Identify the unknown value.
• Q=?
Step 3: Apply the formula Q = mLf.
• Q = mLf
• Q = (0.5 kg) × (3.34 × 10⁵ J/kg)
• Q = 167,000 J = 1.67 × 10⁵ J

Eastern Samar National Comprehensive High School

Alang-Alang, Borongan City, Eastern Samar
E-mail Add.: 303500@[Link] / esnchs@[Link]
 Sample Problem 3: Boiling Water
How much heat is needed to completely vaporize 1.0 kg of water at
100°C? The latent heat of vaporization of water is 2.26 × 10⁶ J/kg.
Step 1: Identify the given values.
• m = 1.0 kg
• Lv = 2.26 × 10⁶ J/kg
Step 2: Identify the unknown value.
• Q=?
• Step 3: Apply the formula Q = mLv.
• Q = mLv
• Q = (1.0 kg) × (2.26 × 10⁶ J/kg)
• Q = 2,260,000 J = 2.26 × 10⁶ J

3. Multi-Step Problems: Combining Temperature and Phase Changes

Many real-world situations require both types of calculations. For
example, to turn ice at a temperature below freezing into steam above
boiling, you must calculate the heat for each stage separately and then add
them together.
Sample Problem 4: From Ice to Steam (Multi-Step)
Calculate the total heat required to convert 0.2 kg of ice at -10°C into
steam at 110°C. Use the following constants:
• Specific heat capacity of ice (cice) = 2100 J/kg°C
• Specific heat capacity of water (cwater) = 4186 J/kg°C
• Specific heat capacity of steam (csteam) = 2010 J/kg°C
• Latent heat of fusion of ice (Lf) = 3.34 × 10⁵ J/kg
• Latent heat of vaporization of water (Lv) = 2.26 × 10⁶ J/kg
Step 1: Warm the ice from -10°C to 0°C (Temperature Change)
• Q1 = m × cice × ΔT
• Q1 = (0.2 kg) × (2100 J/kg°C) × (0°C - (-10°C))
• Q1 = 4,200 J
Step 2: Melt the ice at 0°C into water at 0°C (Phase Change - Fusion)
• Q2 = m × Lf
• Q2 = (0.2 kg) × (3.34 × 10⁵ J/kg)
• Q2 = 66,800 J
Step 3: Warm the water from 0°C to 100°C (Temperature Change)
• Q3 = m × cwater × ΔT
• Q3 = (0.2 kg) × (4186 J/kg°C) × (100°C - 0°C)
• Q3 = (0.2 kg) × (4186 J/kg°C) × (100C°)
• Q3 = 83,720 J
Step 4: Vaporize the water at 100°C into steam at 100°C (Phase Change -
Vaporization)
• Q4 = m × Lv
• Q4 = (0.2 kg) × (2.26 × 10⁶ J/kg)
• Q4 = 452,000 J

Eastern Samar National Comprehensive High School

Alang-Alang, Borongan City, Eastern Samar
E-mail Add.: 303500@[Link] / esnchs@[Link]
Step 5: Warm the steam from 100°C to 110°C (Temperature Change)
• Q5 = m × csteam × ΔT
• Q5 = (0.2 kg) × (2010 J/kg°C) × (110°C - 100°C)
• Q5 = (0.2 kg) × (2010 J/kg°C) × (10C°)
• Q5 = 4,020 J
Step 6: Add all the heat quantities together
• Qtotal = Q1 + Q2 + Q3 + Q4 + Q5
• Qtotal = 4,200 J + 66,800 J + 83,720 J + 452,000 J + 4,020 J
• Qtotal = 610,740 J = 6.11 × 10⁵ J.

Sample Problems for Practice

Instructions: Solve the following problems in your notebook. Show your step-
by-step solutions. Use the constants provided in the article where needed.
1. Heating a Metal: How much heat is needed to raise the temperature of
3.0 kg of aluminum from 25°C to 75°C? The specific heat capacity of
aluminum is 900 J/kg°C.
2. Cooling Water: How much heat is released (calculate Q) when 1.5 kg
of water cools from 80°C to 20°C? (cwater = 4186 J/kg°C). Remember,
heat released is negative in sign, but we often state the amount.
3. Freezing Water: How much heat must be removed to freeze 0.8 kg of
water at 0°C into ice at 0°C? The latent heat of fusion of ice is 3.34×10⁵
J/kg.
4. Melting a Metal: The latent heat of fusion for lead is 2.3×10⁴ J/kg. How
much heat is needed to melt 2.5 kg of lead at its melting point?
5. Combined Problem (Ice to Water): Calculate the total heat required to
convert 0.5 kg of ice at -5°C into water at 30°C. Use the following
constants:
• cice = 2100 J/kg°C
• cwater = 4186 J/kg°C
• Lf = 3.34 × 10⁵ J/kg

Evaluation
Instructions: Solve the following problems completely, systematically (i.e.,
GUESS format). Handwrite your solutions legibly and your final answer with
the correct units and number of significant figures. (1 whole sheet of yellow
paper)
1. A 0.75 kg piece of copper (ccopper = 385 J/kg°C) is heated from 22°C to
85°C. How much heat is absorbed by the copper?
2. How much heat is required to completely vaporize 0.25 kg of ethanol
at its boiling point? The latent heat of vaporization of ethanol is 8.4×10⁵
J/kg.
3. An ice cube with a mass of 0.1 kg is taken from a freezer at -15°C and
placed in a warm room. Calculate the total heat absorbed by the ice
cube to turn it into water at 25°C.
o cice = 2100 J/kg°C
o cwater = 4186 J/kg°C
o Lf = 3.34 × 10⁵ J/kg

Eastern Samar National Comprehensive High School

Alang-Alang, Borongan City, Eastern Samar
E-mail Add.: 303500@[Link] / esnchs@[Link]