Specific heat capacity

HEAT CAPACITY ($C$):

Heat capacity describes as the amount of heat energy which is added to a substance to raise its temperature by $1$$\degree C$.

Mathematically,

$C = \frac {Q}{\Delta T}$

$Q$ = amount of heat energy absorbed

$\Delta T$= change in temperature

The SI Unit of Heat Capacity is $J/K$. Other commonly used unit is $J/\degree C$.

SPECIFIC HEAT CAPACITY ($c$):

Amount of heat required to raise the temperature of $1\,kg$ of a substance through $1$$\degree C$ is called the specific heat capacity of that substance. $c$ is constant and depends on the nature of the material.

Mathematically,

$c = \frac {Q}{m\Delta T}$

$Q$ = amount of heat energy absorbed

$\Delta T$= change in temperature

$m$= mass of the substance

The SI Unit of Specific Heat Capacity is $J/kgK$. Other commonly used unit is $J/kg\degree C$.

Effects Due to High Specific Heat Capacity of Water:

• Materials with high specific heat capacity heat up slowly and cool down slowly. Whereas materials with low specific heat capacity heat up quickly and cool down quickly.

• Materials with high specific heat capacity can hold on large amounts of heat energy.

Water has a large specific heat of $4200 J/kgK$, due to this quality it plays an important role in everyday life.

• The large amount of water in oceans and lakes help to maintain the temperature ranges in their surroundings. This is because water takes along while to heat up as compared to the land surrounding it and produces breeze.

• Water with coolant is used to reduce the temperature of engine through radiator of vehicle. This is because water can carry away large amounts of heat energy away from the engine due to its high specific heat capacity.

• Water also help to maintain our body temperature through sweating and evaporation.