Specific heat capacity

Question 1

What is specific heat capacity?

Answer 1

Amount of energy needed to increase the temperature of 1 kg of a material by 1 degrees Celsius

Question 2

SHC of water

Answer 2

4200

Question 3

SHC of aluminium

Answer 3

880

Question 4

SHC of copper

Answer 4

380

Question 5

SHC of cooking oil

Answer 5

1200 (about)

Question 6

Equation for energy required to heat an object

Answer 6

energy (J) = mass (kg) x SHC (J/kg degrees C) x temp change (degrees C)

Question 7

Why is water used in central heating systems?

Answer 7

It has very high SHC
to transfer thermal energy from the boiler to the radiators.
It can store much larger amounts of thermal energy than a liquid with a lower SHC.
Also means water does not need to be pumped very quickly around the central heating circuit

Question 8

What factors must you know to find SHC?

Answer 8

Amount of heat transferred
Mass of object
Temperature rise

SHC = energy / (mass x temp change)