Specific Heat

Front

What is specific heat?

Back

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

Front

Why does water have a high specific heat?

Back

Water has a high specific heat due to the hydrogen bonds between its molecules, which require more energy to break.

Front

What does a high specific heat indicate about a substance's temperature change?

Back

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

Front

What happens to the temperature of a substance when it absorbs heat?

Back

The temperature of the substance increases as it absorbs heat.

Front

What happens to the temperature of a substance when it releases heat?

Back

The temperature of the substance decreases when it releases heat.

Front

Which material would heat up the fastest in sunlight: water, air, lead, or granite?

Back

Lead would heat up the fastest because it has a low specific heat.

Front

What does temperature measure in terms of particle motion?

Back

Temperature measures the average kinetic energy of the particles in a substance.

Front

How does specific heat affect climate?

Back

Areas with large bodies of water have milder climates because water's high specific heat helps regulate temperature.

Front

What is the specific heat of water?

Back

The specific heat of water is approximately 4.18 J/g°C.

Front

How does specific heat relate to cooking?

Back

Materials with high specific heat, like water, take longer to heat up, making them useful for cooking.