specific heat capacity

• What is specific heat capacity?

  It is the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of 1 kg of a substance by 1° C
• How do you calculate the energy required to increase the temperature of a substance?

  By using the equation: change in thermal energy = mass × specific heat capacity × temperature change
• What is the specific heat capacity of water?

  4,200 J per kilogram per °C
• How do you convert Joules to kilojoules?


  By dividing the number of Joules by 1,000
• How do you rearrange the equation to find the mass of water in the hot water bottle?

  By rearranging to mass = change in thermal energy / (specific heat capacity × temperature change)
• What is the equation for calculating change in thermal energy?


  • Change in thermal energy (J) = mass (kg) × specific heat capacity (J/kg°C) × temperature change (°C)
• What are the steps to calculate thermal energy changes in a system?


  1. Identify the mass of the substance.
  2. Determine the specific heat capacity.
  3. Calculate the temperature change.
  4. Use the equation to find the change in thermal energy.