Specific Heat Capacity - A Level Physics Definition

What is specific heat capacity?

In A Level Physics, specific heat capacity is the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of 1 kg of a substance by 1 °C (or 1 K) without a change of state.

Specific heat capacity uses the following equation:

Where:

• = change in thermal energy, measured in joules ()

• = mass of the substance being heated, measured in kilograms ()

• = specific heat capacity of the substance, measured in joules per kilogram per degree Celsius () or kelvin ()

• = change in temperature, measured in degrees Celsius () or kelvin ()

Some exam boards use different symbols in this equation. Use our exam board specific revision notes to find out which symbols your exam board uses.

Specific heat capacity helps explain why different substances heat up or cool down at different rates when exposed to the same conditions.

In A Level Physics, understanding specific heat capacity is crucial for solving problems related to thermal energy transfer and energy calculations.

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