Sensible Heat vs Latent Heat: What Is the Difference

Have you ever wondered what the distinction was between mild and latent heat? To understand the difference, we must first comprehend how heat transmission and thermal balance operate. It’s the starting point for gaining a better grasp of how heat pumps and refrigeration cycles work.

In chemistry, there are several different types of heat. Some can be felt by the human body, while others cannot. It is critical to learn them since they will assist us in comprehending the scientific changes that are occurring around us. There are two sorts of heat: sensible heat and latent heat, each with its characteristics.

What is heat?

Heat is a type of energy transferred between an object and its surroundings without using labor or substance transfer. Heat is always transmitted from a hotter form to a colder form, bringing the two to the same temperature. Thermal balance is the term for this occurrence.

How Do We Measure Heat?

Heat is a type of energy transferred between an object and its surroundings without labor or substance transfer. Heat is always transmitted from a hotter form to a colder form, bringing the two to the same temperature. Thermal balance is the term for this occurrence.

The Transfer of Heat Can Be Done in Three Different Ways

Conduction

When a hot thing touches a cooler one, conduction heat happens. The heat is transmitted from the warmer to the cooler object until they reach the same temperature—for example, a metal bar heated on one end. The heat would travel from one end of the pub to another through the media.

Convection

Contingent heat is the most efficient means to transmit heat for liquids and gases. When less dense warmer parts of water or gas rise to cooler areas, the process happens. As the cooler regions migrate to the warmer regions, circulation begins. Have you heard the phrase “hot air rises” before? It’s the convection heat that’s to blame.

When water boils, this is a fantastic example. The bubbles created by the heat rise to the top while the cooler water sinks. Another example is when a pump pumps hot water through a convector, generating heat discharged into space.

Radiation

In conduction and convection heat transmission, contact between the two objects is required at all times. There is no need to directly connect the heat source and the colder object with radiation. It transfers heat via electromagnetic waves. The sun warming a concrete wall is an example of thermal radiation (or our faces).

We don’t have to contact the sun to feel its warmth (pain!). Radiant heating panels, which heat a room’s walls, ceiling, and objects, exemplify this principle in HVAC. These things store heat and release it gradually and evenly across the room.

Now that we’ve covered heating fundamentals let’s return to the primary question. Is there a distinction between sensible and latent heat?

Sensible vs. Latent Heat

The distinction between sensible and latent heat is that moderate heat can increase or decrease the temperature. The temperature change will be constant in latent heat and will not alter. There are two categories of moderate heat. Latent heat, on the other hand, is divided into three categories. The detectable heat can be detected. However, latent heat is not detectable.

The heat measured by the human body is known as sensible heat. This category includes the heat that a human body can detect. Check using a thermometer to see if the human body can endure this moderate heat. On the other hand, Non Sensible heat cannot be felt by the human body and cannot be measured using a thermometer.

The heat that may be quantified using a graph is latent heat. This type of heat measurement is critical for determining the energy source that drives hurricanes and thunderstorms. Only a positive quantity, latent heat, exists. It can’t possibly be negative. The only latent heats that can be negative are condensation and fusion. Apart from that, everything else is good.

What is Sensible Heat?

When we heat anything, the temperature inside that object rises. This is referred to as sensible heat. Similarly, removing heat from an object causes the temperature of that object to drop. This method is also known as moderate heat. As a result, the shift in heat is perceptible heat. The energy released during the temperature differential is also taken into account here.

The quantity of heat that our thermostat registers are sensible heat. This thermostat will reflect a temperature change. As a result, the amount of energy added or subtracted is considered. This form of heat is detectable by the human body. Sensible heat is any heat that we perceive in our bodies. The energy will be transferred from one system to another. If we add water to the vessel, for example, the temperature of the water will rise.

When we keep the water cool for a long time, the temperature will drop. There are even two sorts of sensible heat to choose from. They’re referred to as mild and non-sensible heat, respectively. A reasonable heat means using a thermometer to measure the gain or loss. The temperature will drop, and you won’t count it using a thermometer if the heat is non-sensible.

What is Latent Heat?

It refers to the quantity of energy absorbed or released during a physical state shift. This type of shift will occur even if the temperature remains constant. Latent heat is usually quantified in joules or calories, which are units of measurement. This is measured in terms of how much heat is produced.

Depending on the state, such as solid, liquid, or gas, this type of heat will alter. It will also vary depending on the kind of liquid. The amount required to convert 1kg of a liquid to its boiling point is the same gas temperature, for example.

Latent heat can be divided into three categories. They are distinguished by fusion, evaporation, and sublimation. The average human body is incapable of detecting latent heat.

It can be measured using a graph that is either cooling or heating. We’ll need a heater to mature the latent heat for this. We can create a chart that will reveal the latent heat. The steam of atmospheric pressure can also be used to measure latent heat.

Again, kilojoules or kilograms are used to calculate this. Evaporated or melted water can also be used to detect latent heat.

Main Differences Between Sensible and Latent Heat

1. A normal human body can feel sensible heat. On the other hand, the human body cannot detect latent heat.
2. There are two different types of sensible heat. However, there are three different types of latent heat.
3. Internal energy change is utilized in sensible heat. The energy exchange involved in latent heat, on the other hand, is between matter and its environment.
4. In perceptible heat, the temperature will fluctuate. The temperature of latent heat, on the other hand, remains constant.
5. Sensible heat will undergo phase transitions. On the other hand, latent heat will not experience any phase transitions.

Conclusion

Chemistry is used to investigate both of these temps. This is taught to pupils for them to grasp the differences between them. To track the change in latent heat, you’ll need a formula and a graph.

We’ll need a rudimentary comprehension of math calculations to do so. They will also have units to measure them with. Because a normal human body can feel sensible heat, it’s easier to illustrate the differences to students using real-life examples. Boiling water is the most typical example of sensible heat because it is the easiest to understand.

For more details, contact us at ICRFQ, we are the best electrical components manufacturers in China.

If you want to find more Electronic Components Distributors, please check out the following articles:

Electronic Components Distributors In the USA

Electronic Components Distributors In UK

Electronic Components Distributors In China

Electronic Components Distributors In India

Electronic Components Distributors In Singapore

Electronic Components Distributors In Malaysia

Electronic Components Distributors In Vietnam

Electronic Components Distributors In South Korea

Electronic Components Distributors In Taiwan

Electronic Components Distributors In Hong Kong