Difference between revisions of "Specific Heat Capacity"

Revision as of 10:49, 6 March 2019

Specific heat capacity is the energy required to increase the temperature of 1kg of a material by 1°C.

The SI Units of specific heat capacity are J/kg°C.

Specific heat capacity describes how easily the temperature of a material can be changed.

Materials with a low specific heat capacity are generally good thermal conductors and materials with a high specific heat capacity are generally good thermal insulators.

NB: You do not need to remember the equation for specific heat capacity.

Specific Heat Capacity = (Energy Transferred)/[(Mass) x (Temperature Change)]

\(c = \frac{E}{m \Delta \theta}\)

\(m\) = The mass of the object.

\(\Delta \theta\) = The Temperature change of the object.

8.0kg of water is heated with an energy of 1510kJ from a temperature of 11°C to a temperature of 56°C. Calculate the specific heat capacity of the water correct to two significant figures.	A 989g block of metal is heated using an immersion heater from 24°C to 39°C. A Joulemeter connected to the immersion heater reads 13,000J. Calculate the specific heat capacity of the metal correct to two significant figures.
1. State the known quantities in SI Units E = 1510kJ = 1510x10³J m = 8.0kg Δθ = 56-11 = 45°C	1. State the known quantities in SI Units
2. Substitute the numbers into the equation and solve.	2. Substitute the numbers into the equation and solve.

@@ Line 24: / Line 24: @@
 <math>\Delta \theta</math> = The [[Temperature]] change of the [[object]].
+===Example Calculations===
+{| class="wikitable"
+| style="height:20px; width:300px; text-align:center;" |8.0kg of [[water]] is [[heat]]ed with an [[energy]] of 1510kJ from a [[temperature]] of 11°C to a [[temperature]] of 56°C. Calculate the '''specific heat capacity of the [[water]] correct to two [[Significant Figures|significant figures]].
+| style="height:20px; width:300px; text-align:center;" |A 989g block of [[metal]] is [[heat]]ed using an [[Immersion Heater|immersion heater]] from 24°C to 39°C. A [[Joulemeter]] connected to the [[Immersion Heater|immersion heater]] reads 13,000J. Calculate the '''specific heat capacity''' of the [[metal]] correct to two [[Significant Figures|significant figures]].
+|-
+| style="height:20px; width:300px; text-align:left;" |'''1. State the known quantities in [[SI Unit]]s'''
+E = 1510kJ = 1510x10<sup>3</sup>J
+m = 8.0kg
+Δθ = 56-11 = 45°C
+| style="height:20px; width:300px; text-align:left;" |'''1. State the known quantities in [[SI Unit]]s'''
+|-
+| style="height:20px; width:300px; text-align:left;" |'''2. [[Substitute (Maths)|Substitute]] the numbers into the [[equation]] and [[Solve (Maths)|solve]].'''
+| style="height:20px; width:300px; text-align:left;" |'''2. [[Substitute (Maths)|Substitute]] the numbers into the [[equation]] and [[Solve (Maths)|solve]].'''
+|}