Key Questions
The following key questions are answered in this module:
What is the definition of "heat"?
Heat is a measure of the warmth or coldness of a substance, usually in reference to a standard. Heat is also a form of energy. Heat energy, or thermal energy must be added or removed to change the temperature of the air in a building
What is the First Law of Thermodynamics?
The First Law of Thermodynamics, also called the Law of Conservation of Energy, states that energy cannot be created or destroyed; it can only change form.
What is Sensible Heat?
Heat that results in a temperature change only, with no change in phase. It is the heat in a substance, such as air, that can be "sensed" by you and a thermometer.
What is Latent Heat?
Heat that is used to change the phase of a substance - for example, from a solid to a liquid, or a liquid to a gas. The water vapor in air contains latent heat.
How do you measure the capacity of a heating or cooling system?
The capacity of a heating or cooling system is commonly reported in BTUs. One BTU, or one British thermal unit, is defined as the amount of heat required to heat one pound of liquid water by one degree Fahrenheit.