What is the Difference Between Latent Heat and Sensible Heat?

The main difference between latent heat and sensible heat lies in their effects on the temperature and phase of a substance. Here are the key differences:

• Sensible Heat: This is the energy needed to raise the temperature of a substance. When heat is added to an object, its temperature increases, and this increase in heat is called sensible heat. Similarly, when heat is removed from an object and its temperature decreases, the heat removed is also called sensible heat. In summary, sensible heat causes a change in temperature in an object.
• Latent Heat: This is the energy needed to overcome intermolecular forces and trigger a phase change in a substance, such as solid to liquid or liquid to gas. Latent heat does not affect the temperature of a substance; instead, it causes a change of state with no change in temperature. For example, water remains at 100°C while boiling, and the heat added to keep the water boiling is latent heat.

In the context of air conditioning and HVAC systems, sensible capacity is the capacity required to lower the temperature, while latent capacity is the capacity to remove moisture from the air. Both sensible and latent heats are important for maintaining optimal temperature and humidity levels in a space.

Comparative Table: Latent Heat vs Sensible Heat

The difference between latent heat and sensible heat lies in their effects on the temperature and state of a substance. Here is a table summarizing their key differences:

For example, when water is boiling, the heat added to keep the water at a boiling state is considered latent heat, as it does not cause a change in temperature. On the other hand, when heat is added to a solid object and its temperature rises, the increase in heat is called sensible heat.