Specific Heat

Front

What is specific heat?

Back

Specific heat is the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of 1 gram of a substance by 1 degree Celsius.

Front

What is the equation to measure change in thermal energy?

Back

Q = mCₚ∆t

Front

Which object heats up faster: one with a specific heat of 4.45 J/gºC or one with 1.82 J/gºC?

Back

The object with a specific heat of 1.82 J/gºC heats up faster because it has a lower specific heat.

Front

What is the symbol for thermal energy?

Back

Q

Front

What is the formula to solve for change in temperature using the heat equation?

Back

Q/mCₚ = ∆T

Front

What unit is used to measure thermal (heat) energy?

Back

J (Joules)

Front

What does the symbol 'm' represent in the heat equation?

Back

'm' represents the mass of the substance.

Front

What does 'Cₚ' stand for in the heat equation?

Back

'Cₚ' stands for the specific heat capacity of the substance.

Front

If an object absorbs 500 J of heat and has a mass of 100 g with a specific heat of 2 J/gºC, what is the change in temperature?

Back

∆T = Q/mCₚ = 500 J / (100 g * 2 J/gºC) = 2.5ºC.

Front

How does specific heat affect temperature change?

Back

Substances with lower specific heat will experience a greater temperature change when the same amount of heat is added compared to those with higher specific heat.