1. What is Specific Heat?

Specific heat (c) is the amount of heat required to change the temperature of 1 kilogram of a substance by 1 Kelvin. It's an important property in thermodynamics and material science.

2. How Does the Formula Work?

The formula for specific heat is:

Where:

• \( c \) — Specific heat (J/kg·K)
• \( Q \) — Heat added or removed (Joules)
• \( m \) — Mass of the substance (kg)
• \( \Delta T \) — Temperature change (Kelvin)

Explanation: The formula shows that specific heat is the ratio of heat energy transferred to a substance to the product of its mass and temperature change.

3. Importance of Specific Heat Calculation

Details: Calculating specific heat is crucial for designing heating/cooling systems, understanding material properties, and in various engineering applications.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter heat in Joules, mass in kilograms, and temperature change in Kelvin. All values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What are typical specific heat values?
A: Water has a high specific heat of 4186 J/kg·K, while metals like iron have much lower values (~450 J/kg·K).

Q2: How does specific heat differ from heat capacity?
A: Specific heat is per unit mass, while heat capacity is for the entire object regardless of mass.

Q3: Why is water's specific heat important?
A: Water's high specific heat helps regulate Earth's climate and makes it effective for cooling systems.

Q4: Does specific heat change with temperature?
A: For most substances, yes - specific heat varies with temperature, especially near phase changes.

Q5: What's the difference between Cp and Cv?
A: Cp is specific heat at constant pressure, Cv at constant volume - they differ for gases.