Heating Curve of Water

The heating curve of water shows how temperature changes as heat is added, highlighting the distinct phases of ice, liquid water, and steam and the plateaus where phase changes occur. Students see the specific‑heat heating of ice and water, the latent‑heat plateaus for melting and boiling, and the final heating of steam.

By pausing or resuming the burner with the Fire button, they can follow each stage on the temperature‑versus‑heat graph and compare it to the calculated values Q = m c ΔT or Q = m L shown on the board. A zoom lens reveals molecular motion in the solid lattice, liquid, and gaseous states.

The simulation reinforces concepts of specific heat capacity, latent heat, energy conservation, and the quantitative relationship between heat supplied and temperature change, providing a visual and quantitative link between macroscopic observations and microscopic behavior.