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What is Specific Heat Capacity?

by | Last updated: Jan 9, 2021 | 0 comments

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Today I would like to introduce the specific heat capacity to you in a slightly smaller article. The specific heat capacity c indicates the quantity of heat Q that a substance can release or absorb in relation to its mass m when the temperature changes. The temperature change is given as temperature difference \Delta \vartheta in Kelvin K.

The specific heat capacity indicates the amount of energy required to increase 1 kg of a substance by 1 Kelvin. The unit for the specific heat capacity is: \frac{J}{kg \cdot K}.
The specific heat capacity can be determined as follows:

Specific~heat~capacity = \frac{Quantity~of~ heat}{Masse \cdot temperature~difference}

c=\frac{Q}{m\cdot \Delta \vartheta}

The specific heat capacity of water, for example, is at a temperature of 20°C: 4182\frac{J}{kg\cdot K}

    \[\boxed{c_{Water}=4182\frac{J}{kg\cdot K} = 1,1617\frac{kWh}{m^3\cdot K} = 0,00116\frac{kWh}{kg\cdot K}}\]

For instance, to calculate the quantity of heat for a change in the temperature of heating water, the temperature spectrum from 0 to 100 °C is simplified to 1.16 \frac{kWh}{m^3 \cdot K} or 1.16 \frac{Wh}{kg \cdot K}.

In the following link you will find an overview of different substances and their specific heat capacity: Table of specific heat capacities

If you have any questions I’m looking forward to see your comments

Greetings! Martin

Further links and sources:
Wikipedia – properties of water
Wikipedia – specific heat capacity

About Me

Martin-SchlobachHi, my name is Martin and Iโ€™m a passionate engineer in the field of buildings technology. Here you can read who I am and why I write this blog.

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