T5: specific heat capacity

• substance must absorb heat energy to melt/boil = decrease in temperature as go from gas to solid
• solid particles:

  • tightly packed
  • held in fixed position
  • vibrate
• liquid particles:

  • packed together
  • can slide over eachother
• gas particles:

  • spread out
  • no fixed position
  • move rapid and randomly
• specific heat capacity = energy required to raise the temperature of 1kg of a substance by 1 degree
• change in thermal energy = mass x specific heat capacity x temperature change