Stefan number

The Stefan number[1] (St or Ste) is defined as the ratio of sensible heat to latent heat. It is given by the formula

where

  • cp is the specific heat,
    • cp is the specific heat of solid phase in the freezing process while cp is the specific heat of liquid phase in the melting process.
  • ∆T is the temperature difference between phases,
  • L is the latent heat of melting.

It is a dimensionless parameter that is useful in analyzing a Stefan problem. The parameter was developed from Josef Stefan's calculations of the rate of phase change of water into ice on the polar ice caps.

Notes
  1. /ˈstɛfæn/
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