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How to Heat Without Raising Temperature

Heat and temperature are very closely related, but they aren't the same thing. Temperature is a measure of the average kinetic energy, or the average energy of motion, of all the molecules in a substance. Heat is the sum total, rather than the average, of the kinetic energy in a substance or object. In certain cases, heat can be added to a substance without the temperature increasing. The most common example is when matter changes phase. As a block of ice reaches the melting point of water, for example, adding heat does not increase temperature - the extra heat energy goes towards melting the ice into a liquid, water.

Things You'll Need

Ice cubes
Stove or a hot place
Pot or kettle
Thermometer

Instructions

- 1
  Partially fill a pot, kettle, beaker, or other stovetop-safe container with ice cubes. Add water to create an ice/water mixture.
- 2
  Measure the temperature with the thermometer. It should read 0 degrees Celsius or 32 degrees Fahrenheit.
- 3
  Turn on the stove or hot plate on low heat and place the container on the heat. You are now adding heat to the ice and water mixture.
- 4
  Stir the mixture gently and periodically take a temperature reading. Even though heat is continually being added, the temperature should remain constant at the freezing point.
- 5
  Continue measuring the temperature once all the ice has melted. Melting is an endothermic reaction, meaning it absorbs heat from its surroundings. Now that the heat is no longer being absorbed by the melting process, the temperature should start rising.

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