Specific Heat Capacity

The specific heat capacity formula calculates the amount of heat energy (Q) required to raise the temperature of a given mass (m) of a substance by a certain temperature change (ΔT), with specific heat capacity (c) being a property that describes how much heat energy is needed to raise the temperature of one unit of mass of the substance by one degree. In the formula, m represents the mass of the substance, c is the specific heat capacity constant for that substance, and ΔT is the change in temperature. The heat energy (Q) is usually measured in joules, mass (m) in grams or kilograms, the specific heat capacity (c) in joules per gram degree Celsius (J/g°C) or joules per kilogram Kelvin (J/kgK), and the temperature change (ΔT) in degrees Celsius or Kelvin.

The specific heat capacity is a characteristic of materials and is useful in thermodynamics and calorimetry when investigating heat exchange in physical and chemical processes. It is also critical in engineering and material science to predict the behavior of materials under temperature variations.