Sensible heat is defined as?

Sensible heat is defined as the heat that induces a change in temperature within a substance without causing a change in its physical state. This means that when you add or remove heat from a material, its temperature will increase or decrease, which can be measured, but its form (solid, liquid, gas) remains unchanged. This concept is crucial in thermodynamics and heat transfer applications, as it allows engineers and scientists to calculate temperature changes in systems when heat is added or removed.

For example, when you heat water on a stove, it will increase in temperature until it reaches its boiling point. At this stage, any further heat added will not increase the temperature of the water but will instead be used for the phase change to steam, which relates more to latent heat, not sensible heat. Understanding this distinction helps in various engineering applications, particularly in HVAC systems, where controlling temperature is essential while managing heat transfer effectively.