Which type of heat causes a change in temperature?

Sensible heat is the type of heat that results in a change in temperature of a substance without causing a phase change. When heat is added to a substance, and it increases in temperature, this is due to the sensible heat being imparted to it. The concept behind sensible heat is that it can be measured by a thermometer, reflecting a change in thermal energy that corresponds directly to the temperature change observed.

Latent heat, on the other hand, involves heat transfer during phase changes—like melting or boiling—without changing temperature. Specific heat refers to the amount of heat required to change the temperature of a unit mass of a substance by one degree Celsius, while total heat encompasses both sensible and latent heat in a system. Understanding the role of sensible heat is essential when studying thermodynamics and the behavior of different substances under various temperature conditions.