The terms "latent heat" and "sensible heat" are used to describe different types of heat transfer during a phase change of a substance at constant pressure.
Sensible Heat: Sensible heat refers to the heat energy that causes a change in temperature of a substance without a phase change occurring. When sensible heat is added or removed from a substance, its temperature either increases or decreases, respectively, while the substance remains in the same phase. The amount of sensible heat transfer can be calculated using the equation Q = m * c * ΔT, where Q represents the heat energy, m is the mass of the substance, c is the specific heat capacity of the substance, and ΔT is the change in temperature.
Latent Heat: Latent heat, on the other hand, is the heat energy absorbed or released during a phase change of a substance at a constant temperature. During a phase change, such as the transition from a solid to a liquid (melting) or from a liquid to a gas (vaporization), the temperature of the substance remains constant despite the continuous addition or removal of heat. This heat energy is used to break or form intermolecular bonds between the particles of the substance, resulting in a change of phase. The amount of latent heat transfer can be calculated using the equation Q = m * L, where Q represents the heat energy, m is the mass of the substance, and L is the specific latent heat of the substance.
In summary, sensible heat refers to the heat energy that causes a change in temperature of a substance within a single phase, while latent heat refers to the heat energy absorbed or released during a phase change at a constant temperature.