Specific Heat Capacity

Define Specific Heat Capacity

Yes! Specific heat capacity is back! No, this is not a mistake - specific heat capacity appears twice in the specification! So here goes!

Specific Heat Capacity, figure 1

Specific Heat Capacity Equation

Specific Heat Capacity, figure 1

Sometimes E is also written as Q.

List of different substances and their specific heat capacities (J/kg°C)

  • Water = 4200
  • Air = 990
  • Copper = 390
  • Iron = 450
  • Concrete = 3400
  • Cotton = 1400
Using the list, how much energy has been put into 10kg of cotton for the temperature to rise by 20oC?
Your answer should include: 280kJ / 280 kJ / 280000J / 280000 J
For the same amount of mass, which requires more energy to raise the temperature by 15oC, water or concrete?
water
Calculate the mass of iron, when it takes 50kJ of energy to raise the temperature by 300 degrees C?
Your answer should include: 0.37kg / 370g
Using the table, how much energy has been put into 10kg of cotton for the temperature to rise by 20 degrees C?
Your answer should include: 280kJ / 280000J / 280000 J / 280 kJ