Agricultural Engineering Practice Exam

Latent heat of vaporization is the amount of heat required to convert a unit mass of a liquid into a vapor without a change in temperature. This process is critical during the phase transition from liquid to gas. When a substance undergoes vaporization, it absorbs significant amounts of heat from its surroundings, which facilitates cooling in the environment. This is why processes like evaporation are effective at lowering temperature, as the heat energy is taken from the surroundings, resulting in a cooling effect.

In the context of agricultural engineering, understanding this process is vital for managing irrigation and determining how water usage can affect microclimates and crop health. The latent heat of vaporization plays a critical role in various systems, including cooling pads in greenhouses, where water evaporates to cool the air, ultimately supporting plant growth.

Thus, the correct answer highlights the key function of latent heat of vaporization in the transition from liquid to gas, underlining its importance in thermal dynamics and environmental control in agricultural settings.