14.4 Specific Heat Capacity

Definition: Specific Heat Capacity

• Thermal energy per unit mass per unit change in temperature.

Formula

$\Delta E=mc\Delta T$

Where:

• $\Delta E$: Change in thermal energy ($\mathrm{J}$).
• $m$: mass ($\mathrm{kg}$).
• $c$: Specific heat capacity ($\mathrm{JK}{\mathrm{g}}^{-1}{\mathrm{K}}^{-1}$ or $\mathrm{JK}{\mathrm{g}}^{-1}{{}^{\circ }\mathrm{C}}^{-1}$).
• $\Delta T$: Change in temperature ($\mathrm{K}$ or ${}^{\circ }\mathrm{C}$)

Effect of Low and High SHC

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Important

Assuming no thermal energy lost to surroundings: $\text{Thermal Energy Lost by Object A}=\text{Thermal Energy Gained by Object B}$