Specific Heat Capacity and Latent Heat Lecture Notes

Vocabulary flashcards covering core definitions, equations, SI prefixes, and experiments on Specific Heat Capacity, Specific Latent Heat, and related thermal physics concepts.

Specific Heat Capacity (SHC)

The amount of thermal energy needed to raise the temperature of $1\,kg$ of a substance by $1\,^\circ\text{C}$. The standard unit is $J/kg\,^\circ\text{C}$.

Specific Latent Heat

The amount of energy required to change the state of $1\,kg$ of a substance with no change in temperature. Calculated using $E = m L$ with units $J/kg$.

Latent Heat of Fusion

The energy required per kilogram to change a substance between solid and liquid states (e.g., melting ice) without a change in temperature.

Latent Heat of Vaporisation

The energy required per kilogram to change a substance between liquid and gas states (e.g., converting water into steam) without a change in temperature.

Thermal Energy Formula ($\Delta E = m c \Delta \theta$)

Equation used to calculate thermal energy change, where $\Delta E$ is change in energy in Joules ($J$), $m$ is mass in kilograms ($kg$), $c$ is specific heat capacity in $J/kg\,^\circ\text{C}$, and $\Delta \theta$ is temperature change in $^\circ\text{C}$.

Latent Heat Formula ($E = m L$)

Equation for energy transferred during a change of state, where $E$ is energy in Joules ($J$), $m$ is mass in kilograms ($kg$), and $L$ is specific latent heat in $J/kg$.

Electrical Energy Formula ($E = I V t$)

Equation used in the SHC required practical to calculate work done by heating, where $I$ is current, $V$ is potential difference (voltage), and $t$ is time in seconds.

CAES System

Compressed Air Energy Storage system, which utilizes surplus electricity to store compressed air in a high-capacity storage tank.

Gravitational Potential Energy Formula ($E_p = m g h$)

Equation calculating potential energy, where $m$ is mass in kilograms ($kg$), $g$ is gravitational field strength in $N/kg$, and $h$ is height in meters ($m$).

Prefix: Nano ($n$)

A metric unit multiplier corresponding to a factor of $\times 10^{-9}$.

Prefix: Micro ($\mu$)

A metric unit multiplier corresponding to a factor of $\times 10^{-6}$.

Prefix: Milli ($m$)

A metric unit multiplier corresponding to a factor of $\times 10^{-3}$.

Prefix: Kilo ($k$)

A metric unit multiplier corresponding to a factor of $\times 10^3$.

Prefix: Mega ($M$)

A metric unit multiplier corresponding to a factor of $\times 10^6$.

Prefix: Giga ($G$)

A metric unit multiplier corresponding to a factor of $\times 10^9$.

Specific Heat Capacity Required Practical

An experiment using an insulated block (e.g., aluminium), heater, thermometer, ammeter, voltmeter, and stopwatch to determine specific heat capacity by recording temperature change over time.