Specific Heat Capacity
The energy to raise 1 kg by 1 °C: Q = mcΔT.
About this topic
Specific heat capacity c is the energy required to raise the temperature of 1 kg of a substance by 1 °C: Q = mcΔT. Water has an unusually high c of 4180 J/kg·°C, so it takes a lot of energy to heat up and releases much when cooling.
This is why coastal climates are mild, why oceans store solar heat for months, and why water is used in car radiators and central heating. Metals have low values, such as about 900 J/kg·°C for aluminium and 385 for copper, so a frying pan heats up fast while the water in it takes longer. Sand on a beach is hot by day and cool at night for the same reason.
Worked example: heating 2 kg of water from 20 °C to 70 °C needs Q = 2 × 4180 × 50 = 418,000 J. A 1500 W kettle supplying that energy would take about 280 seconds, if there were no losses. The same energy would raise 2 kg of copper by about 540 °C.
The idea underpins calorimetry, cooking, engine cooling and climate science. Students often confuse c with heat capacity, which is for a whole object rather than per kilogram. Another mistake is to forget ΔT is the change, final minus initial. Remember a high c means a substance resists changing temperature.
Key ideas
- Water's c is 4186 J/kg·°C
- High c means slow to heat
- Coastal climates are mild
Quick check
Use cases: where Specific Heat Capacity helps
- Homework: review the key idea behind Specific Heat Capacity before you start a problem set.
- Exam revision: use the quick check to test whether you can recall Specific Heat Capacity without notes.
- Visual learning: play with the interactive lab to see how Specific Heat Capacity changes when you adjust its inputs.
- Teaching a friend: explain Specific Heat Capacity in your own words, then compare your version with the key ideas.
The same laws describe car crashes, sports, satellites and everyday machines.
Frequently asked questions
What is Specific Heat Capacity?
The energy to raise 1 kg by 1 °C: Q = mcΔT.
What will I learn in Specific Heat Capacity?
Water's c is 4186 J/kg·°C. High c means slow to heat. Coastal climates are mild.
Is Specific Heat Capacity part of Physics?
Yes. It is one of 150 Physics topics on LearnViz HighSchoolEdu, with 3 key ideas, a live animation and a quick check.
Does the Specific Heat Capacity lab work on a phone or tablet?
Yes. The animation resizes to fit your screen and supports touch, so you can drag, tap and slide with your finger.
How should I study Specific Heat Capacity?
Read the summary and key ideas first, play with the interactive lab to see the idea in motion, then answer the quick check. If you get a question wrong, go back to the key idea it tests.
Do I need an account, and is my progress saved?
No account is needed. Marking a topic as learned is saved in your own browser, so it stays on that device and is not sent to a server.