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SS1 Physics - Thermal Capacity

This document discusses thermal (heat) energy and heat capacity. It defines thermal capacity and specific heat capacity, and provides their SI units. Specific heat capacity is the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of a unit mass of a substance by 1 degree Celsius. Formulas are given for calculating heat transferred, thermal capacity, and changes in temperature. Examples are provided for calculating specific heat capacity using information about mass, heat transferred, and temperature changes. The document also describes a calorimeter for measuring heat and specific heat capacity.

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240 views

SS1 Physics - Thermal Capacity

This document discusses thermal (heat) energy and heat capacity. It defines thermal capacity and specific heat capacity, and provides their SI units. Specific heat capacity is the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of a unit mass of a substance by 1 degree Celsius. Formulas are given for calculating heat transferred, thermal capacity, and changes in temperature. Examples are provided for calculating specific heat capacity using information about mass, heat transferred, and temperature changes. The document also describes a calorimeter for measuring heat and specific heat capacity.

Uploaded by

Abimbola Brodie-Mends
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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SS1 PHYSICS NOTE 3RD TERM DOWEN COLLEGE LAGOS

THERMAL (HEAT) ENERGY; HEAT CAPACITY

Thermal energy of a substance is calculated in terms thermal capacity (when temperature


changes) or latent heat (when temperature is constant).
Thermal (Heat) Capacity of a substance is defined as the heat energy required to raise the
temperature of this substance by 1oC (1K)
The S.I unit of heat capacity is J/K or J/C.
Specific Thermal/ Specific Heat capacity of a substance is the amount of heat required to
raise the temperature of a unit mass of the substance by 1oC or 1K. The S.I unit is J/kgK or
J/gK.

∁ = 𝒎𝒄

Where ∁ – thermal capacity


𝑚 – mass of the substance
𝑐 – specific thermal capacity

Olutola, M. O 2022
Example 1: The thermal capacity of steel is 330J/K. calculate the specific thermal capacity
for 11g of steel.

Thermal Energy Q of a substance of mass 𝒎, and specific heat capacity 𝒄 whose temperature
changes from 𝜽𝟏 oC to 𝜽𝟐 oC is then;
𝑸 = 𝒎𝒄(𝜽𝟐 − 𝜽𝟏 )
Or
𝑸 = ∁(𝜽𝟐 − 𝜽𝟏 )
Example 2: 0.2kg of a metal is heated from 20oC to 100oC. If the quantity of heat is 5.6 ×
106 𝐽, calculate the specific heat capacity of the metal.

Example 3: A piece of metal, 50g is cooled from 80oC to 20oC. Calculate the amount of
heat lost. (Specific heat capacity of the metal = 450J/kgK)

Example 4: A 0.5 kg block of copper absorbed 1520 J of energy and its temperature rose by
8.0oC. Calculate the specific heat capacity of copper.
Example 5: Calculate the thermal energy in kJ required to heat 2 kg of water (SHC =
4180 J/kgoC) from 20oC to 100oC.

Example 6: A block bronze has a specific heat capacity of 400 J/kgoC. If a 1500 g block of
bronze absorbs 3000 J of energy, what would be the rise in its temperature?

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SS1 PHYSICS NOTE 3RD TERM DOWEN COLLEGE LAGOS

CALORIMETER
The instrument designed to measure quantities of heat and specific thermal capacity is
calorimeter. The simple calorimeter used in Physics practical is usually made of copper,
which is a good conductor of heat.
The calorimeter is designed to reduced heat loss to the surrounding. The calorimeter consists
of a cylindrical container whose outer and inner surfaces are polished to reduced heat loss by
radiation.
The container is place inside a larger container and the two are separated by cotton wool
which is a poor conductor of heat, to prevent heat loss by conduction. This is known as
lagging. To ensure an even temperature, a stirrer is provided with a lid to prevent evaporation
of liquid.

Olutola, M. O 2022
HEAT FLOW
If two bodies at different temperature are in contact or mix together, they come to the same
temperature, after some time. This is known as thermal equilibrium.

The heat energy of the hotter body has flowed to the colder one. This is law of calorimetry.

HEAT LOSS BY HOT SUBSTANCE = HEAT GAINED COLD


SUBSTANCE

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SS1 PHYSICS NOTE 3RD TERM DOWEN COLLEGE LAGOS
N/B: Sometimes heat can be supplied by electricity.
Heat energy supplied by electric current E = IVt
E = I2Rt
Where I = current in Ampere
V = Voltage in volt
t = time in seconds

CALCULATION:

1. A piece of copper of mass 40g at 200oC is transferred into a copper calorimeter of mass
60g containing 50g of water at 25oC. Neglecting heat losses, what will be the final
temperature of the mixture? (Specific heat capacities of copper and water are 0.4J/gK and
4.2J/gK).
2. A block of iron of mass 150g having a thermal capacity of 69J/K is observed to cool at a
rate of 0.15oC/s when placed in a refrigerator. Calculate the:
a) rate at which the block is losing heat, and

Olutola, M. O 2022
b) specific heat capacity of iron
3. Calculate the final temperature when 10kg of water at 100oC is mixed with 20kg of water
at 40oC.
4. A piece of metal 50g is cooled from 80oC to 20oC. Calculate the amount of heat lost.
(Specific heat capacity of the metal is 450J/kgK)
5. A 400W immersion heater is used to heat a liquid of mass, 0.5kg. If the temperature of the
liquid increased by 2.5oC in one second. Calculate the specific heat capacity of the liquid.
6. How long will it take to heat 3kg of water from 28oC to 88oC in an electric kettle taking a
current of 6A from an emf source of 220V?
7. A metal of mass 1.5kg was heated from 27oC to 47oC in 4 minutes by a boiler ring of 75W
rating, calculate the specific heat capacity of the metal.

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