Specific heat capacity: Energy: Physics: GCSE (9:1)

• Temperature


  A measure of the average kinetic energy of the particles in a substance

  
• Specific heat capacity (SHC)


  The energy required to raise the temperature of one kilogram (1 kg) of a substance by one degree Celsius (1 ºC)
• ΔE = mcΔθ

  The equation linking the change in thermal energy, mass, specific heat capacity and temperature change

  
• ΔE

  The symbol for the change in thermal energy
• m


  The symbol for mass
• c


  The symbol for specific heat capacity
• Δθ

  The symbol for change in temperature
• Joules (J)


  The SI unit for energy and work

  
• Joules per kilogram-degrees Celsius (J/kgºC)

  The SI unit for specific heat capacity
• Kilograms (kg)


  The SI unit for mass

  
• Degrees Celsius (ºC)


  The SI unit for temperature

  
• 4200 J/kgºC


  The specific heat capacity of water

  
• Thermal conductors

  Materials with a low specific heat capacity so heat up and cool down quickly

  
• Thermal insulators


  Materials with a high specific heat capacity so heat up and cool down slowly