PHYSICS

Heat capacity Pt.2

Heat capacity
● the amount of energy needed to increase
1℃ of a system

● two types of measuring heat capacity

● specific and molar heat capacity
● if SI unit of mass is in moles, molar heat capacity
● in grams, specific heat capacity.

calories = specific heat capacity * mass * change in temperature

UNIT CONVERSIONS
1 cal = 4.18 J WATER’S SPECIFIC HEAT
1 Cal = 1000 cal CAPACITY
4.18 J/g·°C
1 Kcal = 1000 cal

kcal = kg ∙ ℃

cal = g ∙ ℃
Q = heat energy transferred in Joules (cal)
C = heat capacity of a substance (kcal))
m = mass (g or moles)
ΔT = change in temperature (K, C)
STEP 1 find the heat energy (Q) of water
STEP 2 find the specific heat capacity (C) of metal
1. Calculate the energy required to increase the temperature of 2kg of water from 20°C to 100°C. The
specific heat capacity of water is 4200 J/kg °C.

2. An iron has an aluminium plate with a mass of 1.5kg. Calculate the energy stored in the plate when the
temperature rises from 20°C to 200°C. The specific heat capacity of aluminium is 913 J/kg° C.

3. A hot water bottle cools down from 80°C to 20°C, releasing 756000 J of energy. Calculate the mass of
the water in the hot water bottle. The specific heat capacity of water is 4200 J/kg°C.
Table of Specific Heat Capacities at 25℃