4.

2 Specific Heat Capacity

Figure 4.7 Difference in temperature of sand and sea water at the beach
Figure 4.7 shows two different situations.
The sun heats up the sand and sea water at the same period of time.
However, sand gets hot quickly and sea water gets hot slowly.
Different objects have different heat capacity.
Sand has a low heat capacity and gets hot quickly while sea water has
a high heat capacity and gets hot slowly.
Explanation figure 4.7

1. When water and land are supplied with same quantity of

heat, land will be hot faster than water.
2. Therefore the raise of temperature of land is bigger than
that of water.
3. When the same quantity of heat is loosen from the water
and land, temperature of land will drop bigger than that
of water.
4. This shows that heat capacity of land is smaller than
water because land is faster to be hot and cold.
5. Heat capacity will be increase when :
i. the mass of material increase,
ii. the change of temperature increase
Heat capacity, C
The quantity of heat needed to raise the temperature of the
object by 1°C.
Heat capacity only relates to
C = Q     a particular object
       Δθ , that is Q = quantity of heat supplied Affected by :
Δθ = change in temperature i. mass (of body)
ii. type of material
iii. quantity of heat supplied
Unit for C = J °C–1

When 100 J of heat is supplied to objects X and Y, object X

experiences a rise in temperature of 1°C and object Y 2°C.

What are the respective heat capacity of objects X and Y?

Heat capacity for object X, CX = 100 J
1°C
=
100 J°C–1

Heat capacity for object Y, CY = 100 J

2°C
=
50 J°C–1

Object X has a higher heat capacity than object Y.

Therefore, the increase in temperature of object X is less
than object Y.
 Which pot of water takes a longer time to boil
if quantity of heat supplied is same?

Requires
more heat

Requires
less heat
Greater heat capacity
(due to bigger mass) Smaller heat capacity
(due to smaller mass)
 Which material has higher heat capacity if
time of heating is same ?
θo = 30oC θo = 30oC
θ1 = 35oC θ1 = 38oC

4 kg 4 kg

Needs 18000 J of heat Needs 4160 J of heat

Higher heat capacity

18000/5 due to type of 4160/8
=3600 J oC-1 material =520 J oC-1
i. For the same mass and time of heating , raise of
temperature in alcohol is bigger than water.
ii. Means alcohol is faster to be heated up than that of
water.
iii. Therefore, specific heat capacity, C of alcohol is smaller
than water.
With the same temperature,
a cup of hot coffee causes
more injury /pain to the
body than a drop of hot
coffee.
This is due to the mass of a
cup of hot coffee is bigger.
Thus it can store more heat.

After being left to cool for some time, the
soup in a large bowl is hotter compared
to the same soup in a small bowl.
Daily
Situations The dashboard of a car has a lower
Involving Heat heat capacity compared to the cushion.
Capacity Absorption of heat energy from the Sun
causes the dashboard to experience a
higher rise in temperature compared to
the cushion.

At noon, there is a significant difference in

temperature between cement court and grass.
 http://bt.sasbadi.com/p4127

Figure 4.9 A material engineer is comparing specific heat capacity between different metals

Figure 4.9 shows a material engineer tries to choose a

suitable metal as building material. He needs a material that
does not heat up easily.
Since the heat capacity of a material differs with its mass, he
needs to make his choice based on specific heat capacity
instead – which means he has to choose the material based
on the heat capacity of every 1 kg of each material.
Specific Heat capacity, c
The quantity of heat needed to raise the temperature of 1 kg
mass of the substance by 1°C. Specific heat capacity
only relates to a material
‘specific’ refers to per unit
mass or per kg

where Q = quantity of heat supplied (J)

m = mass (kg)
Δθ = change of temperature (°C or K)

SI Unit : J kg-1 oC-1  // J kg-1 K-1 

Quantity of heat, Q that is absorbed or released by an

object can be determined using the formula Q = mcΔθ
 Therefore :
Quantity of heat absorbed or lost ,
Q = mcθ

When object is heated by an electrical heater

of power, P, over a period of time, t, the amount
of heat energy supplied is given by

Q = Pt
Q = mcθ becomes
Pt = mcθ

Conductor has a low specific heat capacity.

Therefore heat conductor is easy to be heated up and
easy to lose heat // needs small heat to heat up.
Example : metal use as cooking utensil

Insulator has a high specific heat capacity.

Therefore heat insulator is more difficult to be heated up //
needs large heat to heat up and more difficult to lose heat.
Example : wood, water and ceramic
Every substance has its own value of specific heat capacity. Table 4.2 shows
examples of substances and their specific heat capacity.
Table 4.2 Specific heat capacity of different substances
Applications of Specific Heat Capacity
Selection building materials of traditional houses in various climate zones

Wood has a high specific heat

capacity and gets hot slowly.

In warm weather regions, traditional

houses are built from wood which
functions as an insulator of heat
from the scorching sun. Warm climate

In cold weather regions, traditional

houses are also built from wood. Heat
from fires lit in the wooden houses
cannot flow out because wood
functions as a good heat insulator.
Cold climate
Cooking utensils

Woks are made of metal with

low specific heat capacity. As
such, food can be fried at high
temperature in a short time.
Clay pots on the other hand are
made of clay which has a high
specific heat capacity. As such,
food can stay hot for a long time.
 Car radiator system

use water as cooling agent due to its large

specific heat capacity
a) needs large heat to be heated up http://bt.sasbadi.com/p4132
b) can store more heat
1
2

4
Outer layer of space capsule

Space capsule on its journey back to Earth encounters air

resistance when entering the atmosphere.
This friction increases the temperature and causes the space
capsule to burn. Therefore, the outer layer of a space capsule
is made from substance with a high specific heat capacity
and melting point.
Production of latest materials in the construction of green buildings

http://bt.sasbadi.com/p4133
The Diamond Building, Energy Commission is built with an
insulating concrete roof, that is a roof fitted with insulators
using styrofoam boards. Styrofoam has a high specific
heat capacity and can reduce the absorption of heat from the
surroundings to reduce the temperature inside the building.
 Cooking utensil

Handle
1. Large specific heat capacity.
The handle will not become too hot when
heat hheat is absorbed.

2. Poor conductor of heat so that heat

lost is minimum / act as insulator .
3. Handle from wood or polymer or
thermoplastic
Cooking pot

Aluminium body
Copper base
1. Relatively low specific
1. Low specific heat capacity. The pot heat capacity. The pot
becomes hot very quickly. This enables becomes hot quickly.
quick cooking of the food in the pot. 2. Low density so it will
2. High density. The heavier base ensures be lighter
that the pot is stable and will not topple 3. Does not react with
over easily. the food in the pot
 Land Breeze occurs during daylight

1 Air above the land is hot and

Specific heat capacity of 3
rise up . Thus creating low
sand is llower than that of
pressure region.
the water.
2
During the day, surface of 4 Cool air above the sea
land heats up faster .
moves towards the land.
 Land Breeze occurs during at night

1 Specific heat capacity of 3 Air above the sea is still hot

sand is higher than that of and rises . Thus creating a
the water. region of low pressure.
2
During the night, surface of 4 Cool air above the land
land cools down faster.
moves towards the sea.
Exercise 4.2
1. Calculate the total heat that is absorbed by a copper block of mass 500 g and which has been
heated from 31 °C to 80°C. (specific heat capacity of copper = 390 Jkg -1°C-1).

Q=mc Δθ
Ans : 9 555 J
=(0.5)(390)(80-31)
=9555 J

2. When an electric heater is supplied with an electric power of 2 kW to heat 4 kg of water for 1
minute, calculate the increase in temperature of the water. [specific heat capacity of water =
4 200 Jkg-1°C-1) .Assume there is no heat loss to the surroundings.

Pt=mcθ
(2000)(60)=(4200)θ ,120000=16.80θ Ans : 7.14°C

θ =7.14°C

Tips : Electric Energy, E = Pt = VIt Heat Energy, Q = mcθ

3. A lead bullet moves horizontally with a velocity of 130 ms -1 and embedded into a cement wall
after collision. If the specific heat capacity of lead = 130 Jkg -1°C-1 and all heat produces is
absorbed by the bullet, what is the increase in temperature of the bullet?
Ans : 65°C
½ mv²=mcθ
½ v²=cθ θ=65°C
½ (130) ²=130 θ
8450=130 θ

4. An aluminium block of mass 1 kg is heated by an electric heater for 3 minutes and a

temperature rise of 15 °C is recorded. If the electric heater is connected to a voltmeter which
gives a reading of 30 V and an ammeter which gives a reading of 2.5A, calculate the specific
heat capacity of the aluminium.

Pt=mcθ
Ans : 900 JKg-1°C-1
Vlt=mcθ
(30)(2.5)(3×60)=1×c×15
13500=15 c
c= 900 JKg-1°C-1

Tips : Kinetic Energy, E = ½ mv2 Heat Energy, Q = mcθ

5. 300 g of water at temperature 40 °C is mixed with 900 g of water at temperature 80°C. If there
is no heat loss to the surroundings, what is the final temperature when thermal equilibrium is
achieved by the mixture of water?
Ans : 70°C
mcθ= mcθ
(300g) (900g)

(0.3)(θ- 40 °C)= 0.9(80°C-θ)

0.3θ -12°C = 72-0.9 θ
1.2θ = 84
θ=70°C

Tips : Heat Energy Released = Heat Energy Absorbed

Formative Practice 4.2

1.Heat capacity of an object is an quantity of heat required to raise it’s

temperature by 1°C in the whole while specific heat capacity shows the
quantity of heat needed to raise the temperature of 1 kg mass of an object by
1°C

2.Specific heat capacity,c= Q

mΔθ

300= Q
0.2 ×10
Q=600 J

3. Heat lost = heat gained

(0.2)(4500(50-θ)=(0.2)(4200)(θ-30)
930 θ= 29700’
θ= 31.94 °C
 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
 Evaluation
4. 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 if its specific heat capacity is
138 J kg-1 oC-1 ?

c= Q 138=Q
mΔθ 0.0034× 70
Q=32.84 J

Answer : 32.84 J
 4. 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 if its specific heat capacity is
138 J kg-1 oC-1 ?

What
formula to Q = mcΔθ
Hint : There is a use ?
change of
temperature
.

Ans : …….. J
 Evaluation
5. 320 g of hot water at 80oC is poured into an aluminum
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 aluminum = 900 J kg-1 oC-1

80oC

↓
θ
θ
↑
20oC
 i) Worked example Q = mcΔθ
320 g of 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 θ (thermal equilibrium)

Heat lost by water = heat gained by aluminium can
(0.320)(4200)(80-θ) = (0.035)(900)(θ-20) 80oC
↓
107520 - 1344θ = 31.5θ - 630 θ

1375.5θ = 108150 θ
↑
θ= 78.63oC
20oC