Thermal Physics - Melting, boiling and evaporation

Melting: The process by which a solid changes into a liquid. This occurs at a constant temperature called the melting point. During melting, the thermal energy supplied is used to overcome the intermolecular forces of attraction in the solid lattice rather than increasing the kinetic energy of the particles.

Boiling: A rapid change of state from liquid to gas occurring throughout the bulk of the liquid at a specific temperature called the boiling point. The temperature remains constant at $T_{boiling}$ until all the liquid has evaporated.

Evaporation: The change from liquid to gas that occurs at the surface of a liquid at any temperature below the boiling point. Molecules with higher-than-average kinetic energy escape the surface, leading to a decrease in the average kinetic energy of the remaining molecules, which causes a cooling effect.

Factors affecting Evaporation: Evaporation rate increases with higher surface area, higher temperature, and increased air movement (wind) over the surface.

Specific Latent Heat ($L$): The amount of thermal energy required to change the state of $1\text{ kg}$ of a substance without a change in temperature. It is measured in $J/kg$.

Specific Latent Heat of Fusion ($L_f$): The energy required to change $1\text{ kg}$ of a substance from solid to liquid at its melting point.

Specific Latent Heat of Vaporization ($L_v$): The energy required to change $1\text{ kg}$ of a substance from liquid to gas at its boiling point.