The Stefan number (St or Ste) is defined as the ratio of
sensible heat to
latent heat. It is given by the formula
where
* ''c
p'' is the
specific heat,
** c
p is the
specific heat of solid phase in the
freezing process while c
p is the
specific heat of liquid phase in the
melting process.
* ∆''T'' is the
temperature
Temperature is a physical quantity that quantitatively expresses the attribute of hotness or coldness. Temperature is measurement, measured with a thermometer. It reflects the average kinetic energy of the vibrating and colliding atoms making ...
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
Water is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula . It is a transparent, tasteless, odorless, and Color of water, nearly colorless chemical substance. It is the main constituent of Earth's hydrosphere and the fluids of all known liv ...
into
ice
Ice is water that is frozen into a solid state, typically forming at or below temperatures of 0 ° C, 32 ° F, or 273.15 K. It occurs naturally on Earth, on other planets, in Oort cloud objects, and as interstellar ice. As a naturally oc ...
on the
polar ice caps and coined by G.S.H. Lock in 1969. The problems origination is fully described by Vuik and further commentary on its place in
Josef Stefan's larger career can be found in
[Crepeau, J. (2007). Josef stefan: His life and legacy in the thermal sciences. Experimental Thermal and Fluid Science, 31(7), 795-803. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.expthermflusci.2006.08.005]
Same number exist for vapor to liquid phase change,
Nombre de Jakob.
Notes
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stefan Number
Dimensionless numbers of thermodynamics