Latent Heat of Vaporisation Calorimetry: Advanced Thermal Practicals for H2 Physics
Study guideUpdated 17 Jul 2026
Reviewed by
Chee Wei Jie·Academic Advisor (Physics)
Q: What does Latent Heat of Vaporisation Calorimetry: Advanced Thermal Practicals for H2 Physics cover?
A: Compare steady-state steam calorimetry with electrical heating, quantify latent heat.
TL;DR
Feed dry steam into an insulated calorimeter, log mass gain and temperature rise in real time, and compute latent heat using spreadsheet energy balances.
Cross-check the result against an electrical heating run to expose systematic errors like steam quality and heat loss.
The experiment deepens thermal physics understanding and builds the spreadsheet-based data processing + ACE evaluation workflow used in SEAB’s H2 Physics practical paper (9478, exams from 2026).
Why Latent Heat Deserves a Fresh Look
- Thermal physics (phase change, energy transfer, first law) sits in SEAB H2 Physics 9478 (exams from 2026) and is assessed across theory and practical components.
- Calorimetry forces candidates to handle mass measurements, condensation control, and explicit energy balances-skills that map naturally to Paper 4’s practical skill areas and spreadsheet-based data analysis.
- The investigation doubles as a mini research project for scholarship portfolios and Olympiad personal statements.
Apparatus Overview
| Item | Notes |
| Steam generator or electric kettle with silicone tubing | Provides a steady flow of near-100 °C steam. |
| Insulated calorimeter with lid (polystyrene + cork) | Minimises heat exchange with surroundings. |
| Precision balance (±0.01 g) | Tracks water mass gain as steam condenses. |
| Digital temperature probe (thermistor or thermocouple) | Sample at 1 Hz for real-time plotting. |
| Arduino or data logger |