What happens to a substance when it absorbs sensible heat?

When a substance absorbs sensible heat, it primarily leads to an increase in temperature. Sensible heat refers to the heat energy absorbed or released by a substance that results in a temperature change without causing a phase change. For example, when you heat a pot of water on the stove, the water temperature rises as it absorbs heat, but it does not change from liquid to gas until it reaches its boiling point.

This process is important in various applications, including heating systems and engines, where controlling temperature is crucial for efficiency and performance. The knowledge of how sensible heat affects temperature is foundational in thermodynamics and helps engineers predict system behavior under varying heat conditions.