Thermal

Physics -
Specific Heat
Capacity
 Evaporation &
Pressure
Molecular Changes
Model

States of
Matter

Kinetic Molecular Model of Matter

Measurement
of
temperature

Thermal
expansion of
solids, liquids
and gases

Temperature
 Radiation
Convection

Conduction

Thermal Processes
 Latent Heat and
Specific Latent
Melting and Heat
boiling

Thermal
Capacity and
Specific Heat
Capacity

Thermal Properties of Matter

 Quick Revision
- Temperature
Generally, Temperature is a measure of how hot or cold a body is. A
cup of tea at 80℃ is hotter than a similar cup of tea at 50 ℃

At the microscopic level, the temperature is a measure of the

average kinetic energy of molecules in a body.
 Quick Revision –
Brownian motion

Haphazard movement of microscopic particles suspended in a fluid

(liquid or gas) due to the uneven bombardment of the suspended
particles by the molecules of the fluid.
Quick Revision –
Brownian motion
 Quick Revision –
Internal Energy
Imagine this pot of cold soup that has been placed on the fire for heating. The
soup gradually becomes hot.

- Thermal energy is transferred from the fire to the soup. The energy contained
inside the soup is called its internal energy.
- The rise in temperature in the soup results in an increase in the average kinetic
energy of the molecules
- Therefore:
❖ Whenever there is a rise in temperature of a substance = there must be an
increase in internal energy
❖ Whenever there is a reduction in temperature of a substance = there must be a
decrease in internal energy and energy is released
 Quick Revision –
Brownian motion
Molecules in solids, liquid, gases have:

Kinetic energy is
Kinetic Energy: because they are moving
because of motion

Potential energy is energy

stored because of a change
in position or shape
Potential Energy: because their motion keeps them separated and opposes the
bonds trying to pull them together

Internal Energy: Kinetic Energy + Potential Energy

 Quick Revision –
Internal Energy
If a hot material is placed in contact with a cold one:

- The hot material cools down, and loses internal energy

- The cold one heats up and gains internal energy

 Thermal Capacity (C)
The Thermal Capacity (also known as Heat Capacity), C, of a body is the
amount of thermal energy required to raise the temperature of a
substance of any mass by 1℃. SI Unit: J/℃

Consider a body whereby: When Thermal Energy (E) is absorbed, there is no change of
state (potential energy). However, the thermal energy transfer causes the Internal
Energy to increase by kinetic energy and the temperature to rise by ΔT.

𝐸 = 𝐶 × ∆𝑇 , ∆𝑇 = 𝑇𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 − 𝑇𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙
𝐽
𝐸 𝐽 ,𝐶 , ∆𝑇 (℃)
℃
 Thermal Capacity (C)
Some materials have a greater thermal capacity for absorbing thermal energy than others.

So, when we say steel has a lower thermal capacity, we mean steel requires less heat than wood to increase temperature by 1℃.
Remember Heat Capacity and Thermal Capacity are interchangeable words, but we will use Thermal Capacity.
 Try this one :)
When a piece of iron is cooled from 70℃ to 40℃, the thermal energy released is 690 J. What is the thermal
capacity of the piece of iron ?

𝐸
𝐶=
∆𝑇

690 𝐽
𝐶=
40 − 70 ℃
= -23 J/℃

It’s negative because it is cooling down, so we have a decrease in temperature.

 Try this one :)
The thermal capacity of a piece of copper wire is 200 J/°C. What is the amount of thermal energy required to raise
its temperature from 30°C to 100°C

𝐸
𝐶=
∆𝑇
𝐸 = 𝐶 × ∆𝑇 = 200 × (100 − 30)
= 14 000 J
 Specific Heat Capacity (c)
While Thermal Capacity looks at thermal energy required to raise the temperature of a substance by
1℃, Specific Heat Capacity looks at thermal energy required to raise the temperature of specifically 1
kg of a substance by 1 ℃. Hence the term SPECIFIC which when used in Physics often means per kg.-./;-

Material Specific Heat Capacity (J/kg℃)

Water 4200
Alcohol 2500
Ice 2100
Aluminium 900
Concrete 800
Glass 700
Steel 500
Copper 400
 Specific Heat Capacity (c)
Suppose you want to make hot chocolate for your 2 visiting friends. You will be wasting energy if you put too much
water in the kettle, it is sensible to boil just the right amount. Also, if the water is from the cold tap, it will take longer
and require more energy to reach boiling point.

The amount of energy required to boil the water will depend on three facts:

1. Mass of the water (assuming 2 kg)

2. Increase in temperature (assuming 20 ℃ to 100 ℃)
3. How much energy is required to raise the temperature of 1 kg of water by 1℃ (4200J/kg ℃)

𝐽
𝐸𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦 𝑟𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑑 = 2𝑘𝑔 × 4200 × (100 − 20)℃ = 672 000 J = 672 kJ
𝑘𝑔℃

This basically sums ups Specific Heat Capacity

 Specific Heat Capacity
(c)
The Specific Heat Capacity, c, of a body is the amount of thermal energy
required to raise 1 kg of the body by 1℃. SI Unit: J/kg℃ or J/g℃.

𝐸 = 𝑚 × 𝑐 × ∆𝑇 , ∆𝑇 = 𝑇𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 − 𝑇𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙

𝐽
𝐸 𝐽 , 𝑚 𝑘𝑔 , 𝑐 ℃ , ∆𝑇 (℃
𝑘𝑔
Relationship between Thermal Capacity and Specific Heat Capacity:
𝐶=𝑚 × 𝑐
 Try this one :)
Calculate the amount of thermal energy required to raise the temperature of 2 kg of copper from 30℃ to 80℃,
given that the specific heat capacity of copper is 400 J/kg℃.

𝐸 = 𝑚 × 𝑐 × ∆𝑇

𝐽
𝐸 = 2𝑘𝑔 × 400 ℃ × (80 − 30)℃
𝑘𝑔
= 40 000 J
= 40 kJ

It’s negative because its cooling down, so we have a decrease in temperature.

 Try this one :)
Calculate the amount of thermal energy required to raise the temperature of 2 kg of aluminium from 30℃ to 80℃,
given that the specific heat capacity of aluminium is 900 J/kg℃.

𝐸 = 𝑚 × 𝑐 × ∆𝑇

𝐽
𝐸 = 2𝑘𝑔 × 900 ℃ × (80 − 30)℃
𝑘𝑔
= 90 000 J
= 90 kJ

Looking at the copper example and aluminium, while they are both metals, with the same mass, and the same
temperature change, aluminium requires more energy because it has a higher Specific Heat capacity.
 Try these at home :)
1. How much energy is needed to raise the temperature of 0.20kg of cooking oil by 50 ℃, if the specific heat
capacity of this oil is 1800 J/kg℃?

2. I heat 1.5 kg of an unknown metal, so that the temperature increases by 45 ℃. I record the energy transferred
into the metal as 4.5 × 103 𝐽. What is the specific heat capacity of this unknown metal?

3. Some helium is heated from 20 ℃ to 100 ℃. If 520MJ of energy has been transferred into the thermal energy
store of the helium, what mass of helium is involved?
Helium has a specific heat capacity of 5200 J/kg℃.
 Solution 1:)
1. How much energy is needed to raise the temperature of 0.20kg of cooking oil by 50 ℃, if the specific heat
capacity of this oil is 1800 J/kg℃?

𝐸 = 𝑚 × 𝑐 × ∆𝑇

𝐽
𝐸 = 0.20𝑘𝑔 × 1800 ℃ × (50)℃
𝑘𝑔
= 18 000 J
= 18 kJ
 Solution 2:)
2. I heat 1.5 kg of an unknown metal, so that the temperature increases by 45 ℃. I record the energy transferred
into the metal as 4.5 × 103 𝐽. What is the specific heat capacity of this unknown metal?

𝐸 = 𝑚 × 𝑐 × ∆𝑇

𝐸
𝑐=
𝑚 × ∆𝑇

4.5 × 103
𝑐=
1.5 × 45
= 66.7J/°C
 Solution 3:)
3. Some helium is heated from 20 ℃ to 100 ℃. If 520MJ of energy has been transferred into the thermal energy
store of the helium, what mass of helium is involved?
Helium has a specific heat capacity of 5200 J/kg℃.

𝐸 = 𝑚 × 𝑐 × ∆𝑇

𝐸
𝑚=
𝑐∆𝑇

520 × 106
𝑚=
5200 × (100 − 20)
= 1250 kg
 Experiment to measure Specific Heat
Capacity (c)
Link Energy to Power
𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 = 𝐶𝑢𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡 × 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒
𝐸𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦
𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 =
𝑇𝑖𝑚𝑒
Power (Watts / J/s), Time (s), Energy(J)

∴ 𝐸𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦 = 𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 × 𝑇𝑖𝑚𝑒

Experiment to measure Specific Heat
Capacity (c) – Solid (Aluminium)
The block of aluminium has a mass of 1.75 kg
A 850 Watt immersion heater is switched on for 260 s
The temperature of the aluminium block rises by 324℃
𝐸𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦 𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑑 = 𝑚 × 𝑐 × ∆𝑇

𝐽
= 1.75𝑘𝑔 × 𝑐 ℃ × 324℃
𝑘𝑔
𝐸𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦 𝑠𝑢𝑝𝑝𝑙𝑖𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑦 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 = 𝑝𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 × 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 = 850 𝑊𝑎𝑡𝑡 × 260 𝑠
= 221 000𝐽
𝐸𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦 𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑑 = 𝐸𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦 𝑠𝑢𝑝𝑝𝑙𝑖𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑦 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟
1.75 × 𝑐 × 324 = 221 000
𝑐 = 390𝐽/𝑘𝑔℃
This method assumes that all the energy is transferred to the aluminium block,
hence the value of c is approximate.
Experiment to measure Specific Heat
Capacity (c) – Liquid (Water)
The beaker contains 0.5 kg of water
A 100 Watt immersion heater is switched on for 230 s
The temperature of the water rises by 10℃

𝐽
𝐸𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦 𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 = 𝑚 × 𝑐 × ∆𝑇 = 0.5𝑘𝑔 × 𝑐 ℃ × 10℃
𝑘𝑔
𝐸𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦 𝑠𝑢𝑝𝑝𝑙𝑖𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑦 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 = 𝑝𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 × 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 = 100 𝑊𝑎𝑡𝑡 × 230 𝑠
= 23 000𝐽
𝐸𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦 𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 = 𝐸𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦 𝑠𝑢𝑝𝑝𝑙𝑖𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑦 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟
0.5 × 10 × 𝑐 = 23 000
𝑐 = 4 600𝐽/𝑘𝑔℃

This method assumes that all the energy is transferred to the water, hence the
value of c is approximate.
 Let’s try this one :)
Power

Temperature
Mass,
Specific
heat
capacity

Timer
 Let’s try this one :)
The figure shows apparatus used to determine the power output of a heater. The metal block has a mass of 2.7 kg.
The metal of the block has a specific heat capacity of 900 J / (kg °C). In 2 min 30 s, the temperature of the block
increases from 21 °C to 39 °C. Calculate the power of the heater

𝐸 = 𝑚 × 𝑐 × ∆𝑇

𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝐸 = 𝑃 × 𝑡

∴ 𝑃 × 𝑡 = 𝑚 × 𝑐 × ∆𝑇

∴ 𝑃 × 150 = 2.7 × 900 × 39 − 21

∴ 𝑃 = 291.6 𝐽/𝑠
 Let’s try this one :)
State and explain a precaution that can be taken to improve the accuracy of the experiment.

Lagging or insulation around the block this

results in a reduction of thermal energy/heat
losses .
 Let’s try another one :)
A student is supplied with a small block of iron, a thermometer and an electrical heater of power P. There are two
holes drilled in the iron block. The heater fits tightly into one hole and the student places the thermometer into the
other hole. The student uses this equipment when determining the specific heat capacity of iron
State:
1. the other equipment the student will need
2. the measurements the student needs to take
3. the equation used when calculating the value of the specific heat capacity of
iron

1. Timer, Balance/ Scale, Power supply

2. Initial and final Temperature, Mass of block

𝐸
3. 𝑐 =
𝑚×∆𝑇
 Let’s try this one :)
In the student’s home there is a wood-burning stove, which is also made of iron. The mass of
the wood-burning stove is 85 kg.

(i) State what is meant by the thermal capacity of an object.

Thermal energy required to raise the temperature of a substance by 1°C

(ii) The specific heat capacity of iron is 460 J / (kg °C). Calculate the
thermal capacity of the wood-burning stove.

𝐶 =𝑚×𝑐
𝐶 = 85 × 460 = 39 100 𝐽/℃
 Let’s try this one :)
Fig. 4.1 shows apparatus used by a student to The student improves the accuracy of the experiment by
measure the specific heat capacity of iron. placing material around the block, as shown in Fig. 4.2.
 Let’s try this one :)
(i) Suggest the name of a possible material the student could use and explain how it improves the accuracy of the
experiment.
You can give any feasible named insulating material – rock wool, slag wool cellulose, glass wool, polystyrene, wood
fiber, and plant fiber.
The material will reduce thermal energy / heat loss or transfer to surroundings and more energy is transferred into
the block

(i) State how the student could further improve the accuracy of the experiment by using more of the material used
in Fig. 4.2.

By insulating on top of the block

 Let’s try this one :)
The current in the heater is 3.8 A and the potential difference (p.d.) across it is 12 V. The iron block has a mass of
2.0 kg. When the heater is switched on for 10 minutes, the temperature of the block rises from 25 °C to 55 °C.
Calculate the specific heat capacity of iron

𝐸 = 𝑚 × 𝑐 × ∆𝑇
𝐵𝑢𝑡 𝑤𝑒 𝑘𝑛𝑜𝑤 𝑃 × 𝑡 = 𝐸
𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑃 = 𝐶𝑢𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡 × 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒 = 3.8 × 12 = 45.6 𝑊 𝑜𝑟 𝐽/𝑠
45.6 𝐽/𝑠 × 600 𝑠 = 2.0 𝑘𝑔 × 𝑐 × 55 − 25 ℃

45.6 × 600
∴𝑐= = 456 𝐽/𝑘𝑔℃
2.0 × (55 − 25)

By insulating on top of the block

End of
Specific Heat
Capacity
Questions ???