4.

2 Understanding
Specific Heat
Capacity
Learning Outcomes
define specific heat capacity
state that c  Q
m
determine the specific heat capacity of a liquid
determine the specific heat capacity of a solid
Describe applications of specific heat capacity
Solve problems involving specific heat capacity
Which pot of water take a longer time
to boil ?

Requires Require
more s less
heat heat

Greater heat capacity Smaller heat capacity

 What is heat capacity?

Heat capacity of a body is the

amount of heat that must be
supplied to the body to increase
its temperature by 1oC
Which object has a higher heat capacity ?
o = 30oC o = 30oC
1 = 35oC 1 = 38oC

4 kg 30 kg

18 000 J of heat 31 200 J of heat

Higher
18000/5 heat 31 200/8
=3600 J oC-1 capacit =3900 J oC-1
What is specific heat capacity?

Specific heat capacity of a body

is the amount of heat that must
be supplied to increase its
temperature by 1oC for a mass
of 1 kg of the body.
 Which object has a higher
specific heat capacity ?
o = 30oC o = 30oC
1 = 35oC 1 = 38oC

4 kg 30 kg

18 000 J of heat 31 200 J of heat

Higher
18000/(5x 4) specific heat 31 200/(8x 30)
=900 J kg-1 oC-1 capacity =130 J kg-1 oC-1
Formulae
Q
Specific heat capacity, c 
m

Quantity of heat absorbed or lost ,

Q = mc
Heat conductor is easy to be heated
up and easy to lose heat .
Conductor has a low specific heat
capacity.

Heat insulator is more difficult to be

heated up and more difficult to lose
heat .
Insulator has a high specific heat
capacity.
 Worked example pg 113

 The bulb of a thermometer contains 3.4 g

of mercury. What amount of heat is
required to raise the temperature of the
mercury from 30oC to 100o C ?
Hint : What
formula to
There is a change use ?
of temperature.

Q = mc
Ans : 33 J
Worked example pg 114 Q = mc
320 g pf hot water at 80oC is poured into an aluminium
can of mass 35 g and temperature of 20oC. Calculate the
final temperature.
Specific heat capacity of water= 4200 J kg-1 oC-1
Specific heat capacity of aluminium = 900 J kg-1 oC-1

Let the final temperature be 

Heat lost by water = heat gained by aluminium can
(0.320)(4200)(80-) = (0.035)(900)(-20) 80oC


107520 - 1344 = 31.5 - 630

1375.5 = 108150 
o 20oC
 Application of specific heat capacity
Cooking pot
Copper base
- Low specific heat capacity so
that the base becomes hot
very quickly.
- High density so that the base
Aluminium Body
- Low specific heat capacity so
that the pot becomes hot
quickly.
- Low density so that the pot is
Wooden
light. handle
- Large specific heat capacity
so that the handle will not
become too hot .
- Poor heat conductor so that
heat lost is minimum.
Application of specific heat capacity
Cooling system of a car engine
1
2

4
 Why Sea Breeze occurs during
the day?

1
Specific heat capacity of 3
Air above the land is hot
sand is lower than that of and rises . Thus creating
the water. a region of low pressure.
2
During the day, 4
Cool air above the sea
Surface of land heats up
moves towards the land.
faster .
 Why Land Breeze occurs
during the night ?

1
Specific heat capacity of 3
Air above the sea is still
sand is lower than that of hot and rises . Thus
the water. creating a region of low
2
During the night, pressure.
4
Surface of land cools Cool air above the land
down faster. moves towards the sea.
 Evaluation
1. Material X has a higher specific heat
capacity than material Y. Which of the
comparison between X and Y is correct ?

A X warms up faster and cools down faster.

B X warms up faster but cools down slower.
C X warms up slower and cools down slower.
D X warms up slower but cools down faster.
 Evaluation
2. 200 g of P and 200 g of Q are heated by the
same flame for the same period of time. P has
a higher rise in temperature. Which of the
following statements is correct ?

A Heat capacity of P is higher than that of Q.

B Heat capacity of P is lower than that of Q.
C More heat is absorbed by P than by Q.
D More heat is absorbed by Q than by P.
 Evaluation
3. Which of the following is the correct unit for
specific heat capacity ?

A J kg-1
B J oC-1
C J kg oC-1
D J kg-1 oC-1
 Exercise
 Mastery Practice 4.2 pg 115
Q 1, 2, 3,4

 Challenge Yourself pg 115

Q1