Thermodynamics Challenge #3 — Latent Heat

An ice cube in
a warm drink.

Thermodynamics Medium

Problem

An ice cube of mass 50 g, already at 0 °C, melts completely in a drink. The specific latent heat of fusion of water is \( L = 334{,}000\ \mathrm{J/kg} \). Calculate the energy absorbed from the drink, in kilojoules.

Ice mass\( m = 50\ \mathrm{g} \)
Latent heat\( L = 334{,}000\ \mathrm{J/kg} \)
Ice temperaturealready at \( 0\ ^{\circ}\mathrm{C} \)
Answer inkilojoules

The temperature does not change while the ice melts — all the energy goes into the state change.

Hint: no temperature change means no \( mc\Delta T \) — this is pure latent heat: \( Q = mL \). Convert the grams to kilograms before you multiply.

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An ice cube ina warm drink.

Problem