P1.3 - Specfic Heat Capacity

• What is the definition of Specific Heat Capacity?


  Specific Heat Capacity is the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of 1 kilogram of a substance by 1 degree Celsius.
• Why does water have a high specific heat capacity?


  Water has a high specific heat capacity because it takes a lot of energy to heat it up, and it retains heat well.
• What is the formula for Specific Heat Capacity?


  • Formula: $Q =$$m \times c \times \Delta T$
  • Where:
  • Q = energy transferred (J)
  • m = mass of the substance (kg)
  • c = specific heat capacity (J/kg°C)
  • ΔT = change in temperature (°C or K)
• How do you calculate specific heat capacity using the formula?


  Specific heat capacity can be calculated using $c =$$\frac{Q}{m \cdot \Delta T}$.
• If 5000 J of energy is supplied to 2 kg of a substance, causing its temperature to rise by 10°C, what is the specific heat capacity?


  The specific heat capacity is 250 J/kg°C.
• How do you find the specific heat capacity if you know the energy, mass, and temperature change?


  You can find it using $c =$$\frac{Q}{m \cdot \Delta T}$.
• What is the specific heat capacity of a 3 kg block that increases in temperature by 15°C when 9000 J of energy is supplied?


  The specific heat capacity is 200 J/kg°C.
• What are the units of Specific Heat Capacity?


  • Joules per kilogram per degree Celsius (J/kg°C)
  • Joules per kilogram per Kelvin (J/kg·K)
  • Note: 1°C change is equal to 1K change, so J/kg°C and J/kg·K are equivalent.
• What is the specific heat capacity of water?


  The specific heat capacity of water is 4200 J/kg°C.
• What factors can affect Specific Heat Capacity?


  Factors include chemical composition, state of matter, temperature, and pressure.
• If a metal rod and a wooden rod of the same mass are heated with the same amount of energy, which will have a greater temperature increase?


  The metal rod will have a greater increase in temperature.
• If equal masses of water and iron are heated with the same amount of energy, which will show a greater temperature increase?

  Iron will show a greater temperature increase.
• What happens to the temperature of an object with a lower specific heat capacity when the same amount of heat energy is applied?


  The object with the lower specific heat capacity will have a greater temperature increase.
• How do you calculate energy transfer using specific heat capacity?


  • Use the formula: $Q =$$m \times c \times \Delta T$
  • Rearranged formulas:
  • To find mass: $m =$$\frac{Q}{c \times \Delta T}$
  • To find specific heat capacity: $c =$$\frac{Q}{m \cdot \Delta T}$
  • To find temperature change: $\Delta T =$$\frac{Q}{m \cdot c}$
• How much energy is transferred to a 2 kg aluminium block heated from 20°C to 80°C with a specific heat capacity of 900 J/kg°C?


  The energy transferred is 108,000 J.