Specific Heat Capacity

Front

What is specific heat capacity?

Back

Specific heat capacity is the amount of heat energy required to raise the temperature of one kilogram of a substance by one degree Celsius.

Front

How does heat flow between objects?

Back

Heat flows from warmer objects to cooler objects until thermal equilibrium is reached.

Front

What does a high specific heat capacity indicate about a substance?

Back

A high specific heat capacity indicates that the substance requires more energy to change its temperature.

Front

Why does sand heat up faster than water?

Back

Sand has a lower specific heat capacity than water, meaning it requires less energy to increase its temperature.

Front

What is the relationship between specific heat capacity and temperature change?

Back

The greater the specific heat capacity, the smaller the temperature change for a given amount of heat energy added.

Front

Which substance has a higher specific heat capacity: water or iron?

Back

Water has a higher specific heat capacity than iron.

Front

What is the formula for calculating heat energy?

Back

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

Front

If a substance has a low specific heat capacity, how will it respond to heat?

Back

It will heat up quickly with the addition of heat energy.

Front

What is thermal equilibrium?

Back

Thermal equilibrium is the state in which two objects in contact no longer transfer heat to each other, as they are at the same temperature.

Front

How does specific heat capacity affect climate?

Back

Areas with large bodies of water tend to have milder climates due to water's high specific heat capacity, which moderates temperature changes.