What does total heat include?

Total heat refers to the sum of both sensible heat and latent heat in a system. Sensible heat is the energy that causes a change in temperature of a substance without a change in its phase. For example, when you heat water, its temperature rises, which is an increase in sensible heat.

Latent heat, on the other hand, is the energy absorbed or released by a substance during a phase change (such as from liquid to gas or vice versa) without a change in temperature. For instance, when ice melts into water, it absorbs heat (latent heat) without a change in temperature until all the ice has melted.

Combining these two concepts, total heat encompasses the energy that contributes to both temperature changes and phase changes within a substance. This understanding is critical in refrigeration applications, where managing both types of heat is essential for effective temperature control and efficient system operation.