3.2.2 Specific Heat Capacity

• The formula for specific heat capacity is Q = mc\Delta T
• The specific heat capacity of water is 4,200 J/kg°C.
• What is the definition of specific heat capacity?

  Energy to raise 1 kg by 1°C
• Specific heat capacity is measured in J/kg°C.
• The higher the specific heat capacity, the more energy is required to raise the temperature of a material.
• Steps to measure specific heat capacity using a calorimeter:

  1️⃣ Gather necessary equipment

  2️⃣ Weigh the substance

  3️⃣ Place substance in calorimeter

  4️⃣ Insert thermometer

  5️⃣ Apply heat and monitor temperature

  6️⃣ Record initial and final temperatures

  7️⃣ Calculate specific heat capacity
• The formula Q = mc\Delta T</latex> can be used to predict temperature changes in materials.
• What is the unit of specific heat capacity (c) in the formula $Q =$$mc\Delta T$?


  J/kg°C
• The specific heat capacity of a substance is measured in joules per kilogram-degree
• What type of container is needed for measuring specific heat capacity in an experiment?

  Calorimeter
• What piece of equipment is used to measure the temperature of a substance in a specific heat capacity experiment?

  Thermometer
• In the formula $Q =$$mc\Delta T$, what is the unit of $Q$?


  Joules
• $Q$ in the formula represents the heat energy applied, measured in Joules
• Steps to set up an experiment to measure specific heat capacity

  1️⃣ Set up the calorimeter

  2️⃣ Apply heat

  3️⃣ Record data

  4️⃣ Calculate specific heat capacity
• When recording data, organizing it in a table ensures clarity.
• What is the purpose of the formula $Q =$$mc\Delta T$?


  Calculate heat energy
• $c$ is measured in units of J/kg°C
• Match the material with its specific heat capacity:

  Water ↔️ 4,200 J/kg°C

  Aluminum ↔️ 900 J/kg°C

  Iron ↔️ 450 J/kg°C

  Copper ↔️ 390 J/kg°C
• The data to record in a specific heat capacity experiment includes initial and final temperatures, mass of the substance, and heat energy applied.
• The mass of the substance in the formula $Q =$$mc\Delta T$ is measured in kilograms
• What is the description of the variable Q in the formula $Q =$$mc\Delta T$?


  Heat energy required
• Steps to measure specific heat capacity in an experiment

  1️⃣ Set up calorimeter with known mass and thermometer

  2️⃣ Apply heat using a heat source

  3️⃣ Monitor the temperature increase

  4️⃣ Record initial and final temperatures

  5️⃣ Calculate specific heat capacity using the formula $Q =$$mc\Delta T$
• Specific heat capacity is calculated using the formula $Q =$$mc\Delta T$
• Steps to set up a specific heat capacity experiment

  1️⃣ Set up the calorimeter with the known mass of the substance

  2️⃣ Apply heat and monitor temperature increase

  3️⃣ Record initial and final temperatures

  4️⃣ Calculate specific heat capacity using the formula $Q =$$mc\Delta T$
• What is the formula used to calculate specific heat capacity?

  $Q =$$mc\Delta T$
• What does $\Delta T$ represent in the formula?


  Change in temperature
• When performing the experiment, ensure heat is applied uniformly
• Order the materials by their specific heat capacity from highest to lowest:

  1️⃣ Water

  2️⃣ Aluminum

  3️⃣ Iron

  4️⃣ Copper
• What does $c$ represent in the formula?


  Specific heat capacity
• What is the formula used to calculate the change in temperature in the experiment?

  $\Delta T =$$T_{f} - T_{i}$
• Steps to measure specific heat capacity

  1️⃣ Insert the thermometer

  2️⃣ Apply heat evenly

  3️⃣ Record initial temperature

  4️⃣ Record final temperature

  5️⃣ Record mass of substance

  6️⃣ Record heat energy applied
• What does $\Delta T$ represent in the specific heat capacity formula?


  Change in temperature
• What unit is heat energy measured in?

  Joules
• What does the symbol $c$ represent in the formula?


  Specific heat capacity
• What unit is the mass of the substance measured in during the experiment?

  Kilograms
• The heat energy applied is measured in Joules.
• Factors such as heat losses may influence the accuracy of specific heat capacity measurements.
• During the experiment, the initial temperature is denoted as $T_{i}$
• Carefully measure and record the following data: initial temperature, final temperature, mass of the substance, and heat energy applied
• The symbol for the mass of the substance is m