'Heat of fusion' measures the amount of energy
needed to melt a given mass of a solid
at its melting point temperature. Conversely,
it also represent the amount of energy
given up when a given mass of liquid solidifies.
Water, for example, has a heat of
fusion of 80 calories per gram. That means it
takes 80 calories of energy to melt 1 gram of ice
at 0 degrees C. into water at 0 degrees C. Heat
of fusion values differ for different materials.
Answered by: Paul Walorski, B.A. Physics, Part-time Physics Instructor
'In a way science is a key to the gates of heaven, and the same key opens the gates of hell, and we do not have any instructions as to which is which gate.
Shall we throw away the key and never have a way to enter the gates of heaven? Or shall we struggle with the problem of which is the best way to use the key?'