Specific Heat Capacity Calculator

Specific heat capacity is the amount of heat energy required to raise the temperature of one unit mass of a substance by one degree. It is a fundamental property that determines how materials respond to heat.

Key Concepts:

• Specific Heat Capacity (c): Heat energy per unit mass per degree temperature change
• Heat Energy (Q): Total thermal energy transferred to or from a system
• Temperature Change (ΔT): Difference between final and initial temperatures
• Heat Capacity (C): Total heat capacity of an object (C = mc)
• Thermal Energy: Internal energy associated with molecular motion

Key Formulas:

• Q = mcΔT - Heat energy calculation
• ΔT = Q/(mc) - Temperature change calculation
• c = Q/(mΔT) - Specific heat capacity calculation
• m = Q/(cΔT) - Mass calculation
• T₂ = T₁ + ΔT - Final temperature
• T₁ = T₂ - ΔT - Initial temperature
• C = mc - Heat capacity

Common Materials:

• Water: 4186 J/kg·K (highest common substance)
• Aluminum: 900 J/kg·K
• Iron: 450 J/kg·K
• Copper: 385 J/kg·K
• Gold: 129 J/kg·K
• Silver: 235 J/kg·K
• Lead: 128 J/kg·K
• Glass: 840 J/kg·K
• Wood: 1700 J/kg·K
• Air: 1005 J/kg·K
• Ethanol: 2440 J/kg·K
• Mercury: 140 J/kg·K
• Steel: 460 J/kg·K
• Brass: 380 J/kg·K
• Zinc: 388 J/kg·K
• Titanium: 523 J/kg·K
• Concrete: 880 J/kg·K
• Soil: 800 J/kg·K
• Ice: 2100 J/kg·K

Units:

• Specific Heat: J/kg·K, J/g·°C, cal/g·°C, kJ/kg·K
• Heat Energy: J, kJ, cal, kcal
• Temperature: K, °C, °F
• Mass: kg, g
• Density: kg/m³

Applications:

• Thermal energy storage and transfer
• Heating and cooling systems design
• Material selection for thermal applications
• Climate control and HVAC systems
• Industrial processes and heat exchangers
• Thermal insulation and energy efficiency
• Phase change materials and latent heat

Factors Affecting Specific Heat:

• Molecular Structure: More complex molecules often have higher specific heat
• Temperature: Specific heat can vary with temperature
• Phase: Different phases (solid, liquid, gas) have different values
• Pressure: Can affect specific heat, especially for gases
• Impurities: Can modify the specific heat of materials