When measuring temperature rise in an electric furnace, what type of heat is being evaluated?

When measuring temperature rise in an electric furnace, the type of heat being evaluated is sensible heat. Sensible heat refers specifically to the heat that causes a change in temperature of a substance without changing its phase. In the context of an electric furnace, the heating element generates heat which is transferred to the air (or other materials) within the furnace, resulting in an increase in temperature.

This temperature rise can easily be observed with a thermometer, as it reflects the amount of heat added that corresponds to a direct increase in thermal energy of the air, rather than a phase change, which would involve latent heat. Latent heat is the energy required for a substance to change its phase, such as from solid to liquid or liquid to gas, without a change in temperature. In contrast, total heat includes both sensible and latent heat energy but is not what is measured during a straightforward temperature rise assessment in the furnace. Radiant heat refers to heat transfer in the form of electromagnetic radiation, which is not the primary focus when evaluating temperature rise in this context.