Chapter 4: Heat

4.2 Understanding Specific Heat Capacity

A) Concept of heat capacity
1) The heat capacity of an object is the
amount of heat required to increase its
temperature by 1 C
2) Heat capacity is measured in J C-1 or J K-1
3) An object with a larger heat capacity needs to
a) Absorb more heat to raise its
temperature by 1 C
b) Release more heat to cool down by 1 C
4) An object with a smaller heat capacity
needs to
a) Absorb less heat to raise its temperature
by 1 C
b) Release less heat to cool down by 1 C
5) The heat capacity of an object is calculated
Heat capacity = heat absorb or released
by object
Change in
temperature

, where C = heat capacity

Q = heat absorb or
released by the
Object
= change in temperature
6) Example:
A block of metal has a heat capacity of
150 J C-1. Calculate the amount of heat
required to raise its temperature from 25
C to 30 C.
Asw:
Increase in temperature = 30 -25 = 5C
Heat required = 150 x 5 = 750 J
7) When an object is heated, its temperature
increases as the heat energy absorbed
increases the kinetic energy of the
molecules and makes the molecules move
faster.
8) The increase in temperature (or total
amount of heat in object) depends on:
a) Quantity of heat absorb (temperature of
the object)
b) Mass of the object
c) Type of material
B) Specific heat capacity
1) Specific heat capacity of a substance is the
quantity of heat energy required to
increase its temperature of 1kg of the
substance by 1C or 1 K.
2) Units = J kg-1 C-1 or J kg-1 K-1

3)Q = mc
where, Q = heat absorbed or heat released
(J)
m=mass (kg)
c = specific heat capacity (J kg-1 C-1)
= change in temperature (C)

4)

Faster increase
increase
In temperature
temperature

slower
in

Small
value of
c

Bigger
Equal mass
value of
c
same rate of heat supplied
a) When two objects of equal masses are
heated at the same rates, the object with
the smaller specific heat capacity will
have a faster temperature increase.
Equal increase in temperature
Small
Bigger
Equal mass
value of
value of
c
c
Less heat
Supplied
more
heat
Supplied
b) When two objects of equal masses are
heated to obtain the same temperature
increase, more heat is needed to be
supplied to the object with a larger
specific heat capacity.
5) When two object of equal masses are left
to cool down,
a) Object with bigger specific heat capacity
will cool down at slower rate
b) Object with smaller specific heat
capacity will cool down at faster rate
6) Different matter are said to have different
specific heat capacity, c.
7) Liquid generally have higher specific heat
capacity than metals. (mercury is an
exception,
c Hg = 140 J kg-1 C1
)
--- when heat solid and liquid of equal
mass to archive same temperature rise,

Chapter 4: Heat
4.2 Understanding Specific Heat Capacity
liquid requires more heat energy compared
to solid
2
3
8) Example,
a) When a glass block of mass 1kg and a
copper 4
block of mass 1kg are heat under
the same conditions, the increase in
temperature of the copper block is higher
than that of glass block
1 heat capacity
b) Copper 5has a lower specific
than glass
6
9) A material which has high specific heat
capacity are:a) It takes a longer time to be heated
b) It does not lose heat easily
c) Usually use as a heat insulator
d) Poor heat conductor
C) Relationship between heat content and
mass
1) if you stand near a satay stall where the
seller is grilling sticks of satay, you will
notice fragments of red hot charcoal ambers
flying up from the frames. When these
ambers touch your arm, you feel no pain or
just a slight sensation of hotness even
though the red hot ambers are at a few
hundred C. why?
The charcoal fragments have a very
small mass. Thus, their heat capacity is
very small. Though there is a big

temperature drop when the fragments

come into contact with our skin, only a
very small amount of heat is released.
2) The sparks of a sparkler do not burn the
hand of a person. However, if the hand of a
person accidentally touches a glowing
sparkler, it will get burnt. This is because
the sparks of a sparkler have a smaller
amount of heat due to its small mass if
compared to a glowing sparkler.

3) a) two similar bowls, P & Q, one full while

the other 1/3 filled with hot soup at same
temperature.
b) after 10 min, the soup in bowl Q falls to
room temperature while soup in bowl P is
still warm
--- the bigger the mass of an object, the
more heat it
can store.
D) Application of specific heat capacity
a) Cooling system of car engine

a) Water has large specific heat capacity.

b) Water acts as a heat reservoir as it can
absorb a large amount of heat without a
high increase in temperature.
c) Water is available at low cost
d) Water is a very useful cooling agent in car
engine to prevent overheating of the
engine.
e) 1) water pump pumps the water through
channels
into the engine block
2) heat from the combustion of petrol-air
mixture in
the cylinders is transferred to the water
3) hot water flows to the radiator
4) cool air is drawn in by radiator fan
5) hot water in radiator is cooled by air,
which is
drawn in by the radiator fan, blowing
over the fins
of the radiator
6) Heat absorb from water is released from
the cooling fins to the air that passes
over them
b) Sea breeze

Chapter 4: Heat
4.2 Understanding Specific Heat Capacity
1

a) movement of cool air from the sea to

land as a
result of hot air that rising from the land
in the day
time
b) it is caused by the different heat
capacity of the
land and sea
c) 1) during day time, heat energy from
the sun is
absorbed by the sea and land
2) land has a lower specific heat
capacity.
Temperature increase faster. Land
warmer than
sea.
3) sea has a higher specific heat
capacity.
Temperature increase slower. Sea is
cooler than
land.
4) heat above the land is heated up and
rises
5) cooler air above the sea moves
towards the
land.
c) Land breeze
1
4
5

a) movement of cool air from the land to

sea as a
result of hot air that rising from the sea
during night
time
b) it is caused by the different heat
capacity of the
land and sea
c) 1) during night time, heat energy is lost
from the
sea and land
2) land has a lower specific heat
capacity.
Cools off faster. Land cooler than
sea.
3) sea has a higher specific heat
capacity.
Cools off slower. Sea is warmer than
land.
4) warmer air above the sea rises
5) cooler air from the land moves
towards the
Sea
d) cooking pot
1) body, base and handle of cooking pot
are made of
material with different specific heat
capacity
2)
Part
Characteristics
Base
Copper base
Low specific heat capacity
Become hot very quickly.
Enable quick cooking of the
food in the pot
High density. Heavier base
ensure that the pot is stable
and will not topple over
easily
Handle Made of synthetic material (eg.
Plastic)
Large specific heat capacity
Will not become too hot when
heat is absorbed
Poor conductor of heat
Low density. Does not add very
much to the total weight of
the pot
Body
Aluminium body
Relative low specific heat
capacity

Chapter 4: Heat
4.2 Understanding Specific Heat Capacity
Becomes hot very quickly
Low density. Reduces overall
weight of the pot
Does not react with the food in
the pot.

3) The temperature of 10kg of a substance

rises by 55C when heated. Calculate the
temperature rise when 22kg of the
substance is heat with the same quantity
of heat. (25)
4)A block of iron of mass 2kg at temperature
30C is heated with an electric heater
rated 100W for 1 minute. Find the rise in
temperature and the final temperature of
the block of iron. [specific heat capacity of
iron = 452 J kg-1 C-1] (6.64 ; 36.64)
5)The water temperature at the top of a
200m high waterfall is 20C. what is the
water temperature at the bottom of the
waterfall? [c=4200 J kg-1 C-1] (20.48)
6)A bullet travelling at 200ms-1 hits a sand
bag. The temperature of the bullet rises by
50C. assuming that all the kinetic energy
of the bullet is converted into heat energy
which heats up the bullet, calculate the
specific heat capacity of bullet. (400)

E) Problem solving
1) Law of conservation of energy is used in
solving problem related to heat energy
a) Electrical energy
Electrical energy
heat energy
Q = Pt
Q=mc

Pt mc
7)

A mechanic dropped a steel nut of mass

0.02kg and temperature of 90C into 0.25kg
b) Kinetic energy of a moving object
of water at 24C in a polystyrene cup. What is
kinetic energy
heat energy
the temperature when the steel nut and water
1
2
E K 2 mv
have come to thermal equilibrium?
[specific heat capacity of water= 4200 J kg-1
Q=mc
C-1]
1
2
mv mc
[specific heat capacity of steel = 450 J kg-1 C1
2
] (24.56)
8) 200g of hot water at 80C is mixed with 100g
of cold water at 20C. what is the final
c) Potential energy of a falling object
temperature of the water? (60)
potential energy
heat energy
9) A copper sphere of mass 500g is heated in
E P mgh
the flame of a Bunsen burner for several
Q=mc
minutes before being immersed into 2 kg of
water at 30C. the final temperature of water
mgh mc
is 50C. calculate the temperature of the
sphere before it was dropped into the water.
[ccopper=400 J kg-1 C-1 ;cwater=4200 J kg-1 C-1]
(890)
EXAMPLE:
10)
in a ballistics test, a bullet travelling at a
1) The amount of heat needed to increase
velocity of 360m/s is stopped by a stationary
the temperature of a piece of marble from
sand bag. 20% of the energy lost by the bullet
27C to 37C is 2.64kJ. The mass of the
is converted to heat energy that is absorbed
marble is 0.30 kg. what is the specific heat
by the bullet. (86.4)
capacity of the marble? (880)
2) An iron spoon of mass 500g is heated from
20C to 100C. how much heat is
absorbed by the iron spoon?
7) A mechanic dropped a steel nut of mass
[specific heat capacity of iron = 452 J kg-1
-1
0.02kg and temperature of 90C into 0.25kg of
C ] (18080)
water at 24C in a polystyrene cup. What is the

Chapter 4: Heat
4.2 Understanding Specific Heat Capacity
temperature when the steel nut and water have
come to thermal equilibrium?
[specific heat capacity of water= 4200 J kg-1
C-1]
[specific heat capacity of steel = 450 J kg-1 C1
] (24.56)
8) 200g of hot water at 80C is mixed with
100g of cold water at 20C. what is the final
temperature of the water? (60)
9) A copper sphere of mass 500g is heated in
the flame of a Bunsen burner for several
minutes before being immersed into 2 kg of
water at 30C. the final temperature of water
is 50C. calculate the temperature of the
sphere before it was dropped into the water.
[ccopper=400 J kg-1 C-1 ;cwater=4200 J kg-1 C-1]
(890)
10) in a ballistics test, a bullet travelling at a
velocity of 360m/s is stopped by a stationary
sand bag. 20% of the energy lost by the bullet
is converted to heat energy that is absorbed
by the bullet. (86.4)

is 50C. calculate the temperature of the

sphere before it was dropped into the water.
[ccopper=400 J kg-1 C-1 ;cwater=4200 J kg-1 C-1]
(890)
10) in a ballistics test, a bullet travelling at a
velocity of
360m/s is stopped by a stationary sand bag.
20% of the
energy lost by the bullet is converted to heat
energy that
is absorbed by the bullet. (86.4)

7) A mechanic dropped a steel nut of mass

0.02kg and
temperature of 90C into 0.25kg of water
at 24C in a
polystyrene cup. What is the temperature
when the
steel nut and water have come to thermal
equilibrium?
[specific heat capacity of water= 4200 J kg-1
C-1]
[specific heat capacity of steel = 450 J kg-1 C1
] (24.56)
8) 200g of hot water at 80C is mixed with
100g of cold water at 20C. what is the final
temperature of the water? (60)
9) A copper sphere of mass 500g is heated in
the flame of a Bunsen burner for several
minutes before being immersed into 2 kg of
7) A mechanic dropped a steel nut of mass
water at 30C. the final temperature of water
0.02kg and temperature of 90C into 0.25kg
is 50C. calculate the temperature of the
of water at 24C in a polystyrene cup. What is
sphere before it was dropped into the water.
the temperature when the steel nut and water
[ccopper=400 J kg-1 C-1 ;cwater=4200 J kg-1 C-1]
have come to thermal equilibrium?
(890)
[specific heat capacity of water= 4200 J kg-1
10) in a ballistics test, a bullet travelling at a
-1
C ]
velocity of 360m/s is stopped by a stationary
[specific heat capacity of steel = 450 J kg-1 Csand bag. 20% of the energy lost by the bullet
1
] (24.56)
is converted to heat energy that is absorbed
8) 200g of hot water at 80C is mixed with
by the bullet. (86.4)
100g of cold water at 20C. what is the final
temperature of the water? (60)
9) A copper sphere of mass 500g is heated in
the flame of a Bunsen burner for several
minutes before being immersed into 2 kg of
water at 30C. the final temperature of water