Specific Heat Capacity

Flashcards covering key concepts related to specific heat capacity.

Specific Heat Capacity

The amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of 1 kg of a material by 1°C.

E = mcAT

Formula for calculating energy, where E is energy, m is mass, c is specific heat capacity, and AT is the change in temperature.

Low Specific Heat Capacity

Substances that warm quickly because they need less heat energy for a given change in temperature.

High Specific Heat Capacity

Substances that take a long time to warm up and retain heat for a long period.

Heat Capacity

The amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of a substance by 1°C or 1K.

Calculating Energy

Energy can be calculated using the equation Q = msΔT, where Q is energy, m is mass, s is specific heat, and ΔT is the change in temperature.

Units of Specific Heat Capacity

Measured in joules per degree Celsius per kilogram (J/kg°C).

Cooling Effect of Water

Water's high specific heat capacity allows it to be an effective coolant in motor vehicles.

Energy Supplied by Heater

Calculated as power multiplied by time, expressed in joules (J).

Thermal Capacity

The product of mass and specific heat capacity of a substance.