Specific Heat Capacity Lecture

Vocabulary flashcards reviewing key terms and definitions related to specific heat capacity.

Specific Heat Capacity

Amount of heat energy required to raise the temperature of 1 kg of a substance by 1 °C (or 1 K).

Formula for Heat Transfer

Q = m c ΔT, where Q is heat energy, m is mass, c is specific heat capacity, and ΔT is the change in temperature.

Q (Heat Energy)

The total thermal energy transferred to or from a substance, measured in joules (J).

m (Mass)

The quantity of matter in a sample, measured in kilograms (kg), used in the heat equation.

c (Specific Heat Capacity Symbol)

Represents specific heat capacity in the equation Q = m c ΔT; units are J kg⁻¹ °C⁻¹.

ΔT (Change in Temperature)

The difference between final and initial temperature of a substance, measured in °C or K.

Specific Heat Capacity of Water

Approximately 4 200 J kg⁻¹ °C⁻¹, indicating water’s high ability to store heat.

Importance of Specific Heat Capacity

Indicates how well a material can store heat energy, useful in engineering, climate studies, and everyday heating calculations.