SPM Physics – Latent Heat of Fusion at the Market

 

At the market, fish are kept on ice to stay fresh. But what’s the science behind it? This comic shows how ice absorbs latent heat of fusion from the fish. As the ice melts, it takes away energy, lowering the fish’s temperature and keeping it cool. The fishmonger’s trick isn’t magic — it’s physics!

Freshness is preserved because melting ice steals heat from the fish, not because the fish “likes the cold.” This everyday example connects directly to the SPM KSSM syllabus on Heat and Latent Heat.