1. What is the Specific Heat Formula?

The specific heat formula calculates the temperature change of a substance when heat energy is added or removed. It describes the relationship between heat transfer, mass, specific heat capacity, and resulting temperature change.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the specific heat formula:

Where:

• \( \Delta T \) — Temperature change (K)
• \( Q \) — Heat energy transferred (J)
• \( m \) — Mass of the substance (kg)
• \( c_p \) — Specific heat capacity (J/kg·K)

Explanation: The formula shows that temperature change is directly proportional to the heat energy added and inversely proportional to both the mass and specific heat capacity of the substance.

3. Importance of Temperature Change Calculation

Details: Calculating temperature change is essential in thermodynamics, engineering, chemistry, and materials science for designing heating/cooling systems, understanding thermal properties, and predicting material behavior under thermal stress.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter heat energy in joules, mass in kilograms, and specific heat capacity in J/kg·K. All values must be positive numbers greater than zero.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is specific heat capacity?
A: Specific heat capacity is the amount of heat energy required to raise the temperature of 1 kg of a substance by 1 Kelvin.

Q2: Why does temperature change depend on mass?
A: More mass requires more heat energy to achieve the same temperature change because there are more particles to heat.

Q3: What are typical specific heat values?
A: Water: 4186 J/kg·K, Aluminum: 900 J/kg·K, Iron: 450 J/kg·K, Copper: 385 J/kg·K.

Q4: Can this formula be used for cooling?
A: Yes, when heat is removed (Q negative), the temperature change will be negative, indicating cooling.

Q5: What are the limitations of this formula?
A: Assumes constant specific heat capacity and no phase changes. Not accurate for substances where specific heat varies significantly with temperature.