Temperature changes in a system and specific heat capacity

• If the temperature of the system increases, the increase in temperature depends on the mass of the substance heated, the type of material and the energy input to the system
• Equation linking to change in thermal energy, mass, specific heat capacity and temperature change:

  • Change in thermal energy in J, mass in kg, specific heat capacity in j/kg, temperature change in degrees Celsius
  • change in thermal energy = mass x specific heat capacity x temperature change
• The specific heat capacity of a substance is the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of one kilogram of the substance by one degree Celsius