Chapter 9

Energy and States of Matter

9.2
Units of Energy and Specific
Heat

Copyright © 2005 by Pearson Education, Inc.

Publishing as Benjamin Cummings

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Units for Measuring Energy or
Heat

Heat is measured in Joules or calories.

4.184 Joules (J) = 1 calorie (cal) (exact)

1 kJ = 1000 J

1 kilocalorie (kcal) = 1000 calories (cal)

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Examples of Energy In Joules

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Learning Check
How many calories are obtained from a pat of butter
if it provides 150 J of energy when metabolized?

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Solution
How many calories are obtained is a pat of butter
if it provides 150 J of energy when metabolized?

Given: 150 J Need: calories

Plan: J cal
Equality: 1 cal = 4.184 J
Set Up: 150 J x 1 cal = 36 cal
4.184 J

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Specific Heat
Specific heat
• Is different for different substances.
• With a larger value increases the temperature more.
• Is the amount of heat that raises the temperature of 1 g
of a substance by 1°C.
• In the SI system has units of J/g°C.
• In the metric system has units of cal/g°C.

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Examples of Specific Heats

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Learning Check

A. A substance with a large specific heat

1) increases the temperature less
2) increases the temperature more

B. When ocean water cools, the surrounding air

1) cools 2) warms 3) stays the same

C. Sand in the desert is hot in the day, and cool

at night. Sand must have a
1) high specific heat 2) low specific heat

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Solution
A. A substance with a large specific heat
2) increases the temperature more
B. When ocean water cools, the surrounding air
2) warms
C. Sand in the desert is hot in the day, and cool
at night. Sand must have a
2) low specific heat

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Learning Check
What is the specific heat of a metal if 24.8 g absorbs
275 J of energy and the temperature rises from 20.2°C to
24.5°C?

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Solution
What is the specific heat of a metal if 24.8 g absorbs
275 J of energy and the temperature rises from 20.2°C to
24.5°C?
Given: 24.8 g, 275 J, 20.2°C to 24.5°C Need: J/g°C
Plan: SH = Heat/g°C
ΔT = 24.5°C – 20.2°C = 4.3 °C
Set Up: 275 J = 2.6 J/g°C
(24.8 g)(4.3°C)

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