Sensible heat isheat exchanged by a body orthermodynamic system in which the exchange of heat changes the temperature of the body or system, and some macroscopic variables of the body or system, but leaves unchanged certain other macroscopic variables of the body or system, such as volume or pressure.[1][2][3][4]
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 The classicalCarnot heat engine | ||||||||||||
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Sensible heat is in contrast tolatent heat, which is the amount of heat exchanged that is hidden, meaning it occurs without change of temperature. For example, during a phase change such as the melting of ice, the temperature of the system containing the ice and the liquid is constant until all ice has melted.Latent heat andsensible heat are complementary terms.
The sensible heat of athermodynamic process may be calculated as the product of the body's mass (m) with itsspecific heat capacity (c) and the change in temperature ():
Sensible heat and latent heat are not special forms of energy. Rather, they are exchanges of heat under conditions specified in terms of their effect on a material or a thermodynamic system.
In the writings of the early scientists who provided the foundations ofthermodynamics,sensible heat had a clear meaning incalorimetry.James Prescott Joule characterized it in 1847 as an energy that was indicated by the thermometer.[5]
Both sensible and latent heats are observed in many processes while transporting energy in nature. Latent heat is associated with changes of state, measured at constant temperature, especially thephase changes of atmospheric water, mostlyvaporization andcondensation, whereas sensible heat directly affects the temperature of the atmosphere.
In meteorology,sensible heat flux is the conductive heatflux from the Earth's surface to theatmosphere.[6] It is an important component of Earth's surface energy budget. Sensible heat flux is commonly measured with theeddy covariance method.
I am inclined to believe that both of these hypotheses will be found to hold good,—that in some instances, particularly in the case of sensible heat, or such as is indicated by the thermometer, heat will be found to consist in the living force of the particles of the bodies in which it is induced;, Lecture on Matter, Living Force, and Heat. May 5 and 12, 1847
