What is the difference between “sensible heat” and “latent heat”?

Sensible heat refers to the energy required to change the temperature of a substance without changing its phase. When sensible heat is added or removed, the temperature of the substance increases or decreases, which can indeed be felt or measured. In contrast, latent heat pertains to the energy absorbed or released during a phase change, such as from solid to liquid or liquid to gas, without causing a change in temperature. This means that during this process, while heat is being transferred, the temperature of the substance remains constant until the phase change is complete.

This distinction is crucial in understanding thermodynamic processes, particularly in heating and cooling systems. The energy involved in sensible heat changes is directly related to the temperature difference experienced, while latent heat is significant when discussing changes in state, like melting or vaporizing, where you don’t observe a temperature change even though energy is being transferred. Hence, the first choice accurately describes the fundamental difference between these two types of heat.