What is Heat capacity: Definition and 437 Discussions

Heat capacity or thermal capacity is a physical property of matter, defined as the amount of heat to be supplied to an object to produce a unit change in its temperature. The SI unit of heat capacity is joule per kelvin (J/K).
Heat capacity is an extensive property. The corresponding intensive property is the specific heat capacity, found by dividing the heat capacity of an object by its mass. Dividing the heat capacity by the amount of substance in moles yields its molar heat capacity. The volumetric heat capacity measures the heat capacity per volume. In architecture and civil engineering, the heat capacity of a building is often referred to as its thermal mass .

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  1. B

    Newton's Law of Cooling & Specific Heat Capacity

    Newton's Law of Cooling basically states (I believe): TObj = (TInital-TEnv)ekt + TEnv where k is a property of the material. In the equation: Q=mCΔT Specific heat capacity, C, is also a material property. So here's my question: Is there a relation between Newton's Law's k and the...
  2. W

    Heat Capacity and Entropy Textbook Definition - Quick Question

    Just a quick question of something I found in my textbook but can't get how they produced it. C_p =(∂Q/∂T)_p that is the definition of heat capacity at a constant pressure p. Q is heat and T is temperature. This equation is fine and I know how to derive it. Now it is the next line which...
  3. J

    Year 12: Cambridge Physics (Calculus in Specific heat capacity)

    Below 20K, The specific heat capacity c of silver varies with temperature according to the equationc/\text{J /kg /K} = 1.5x10^{-4}(T/K)^3 + 6.0x10^{-3} T/K. If a small silver sphere of diameter 4am and at 20K is placed in 25g of liquid helium at 4K, what fraction of the liquid will evaporate...
  4. A

    Heat Capacity and Temperature change

    I know how to do heat capacity problems but i am unsure of how to do them when two materials are combined together. Here is the question. Any help would be great, thanks. A 5 kg pieces of low carbon steel at room temperature 25°C is placed into contact with a 300g piece of polyethylene at 180°C...
  5. M

    Radioactivity & Specific Heat Capacity Question

    Homework Statement 0.2g of a radium salt was separated from a ton of uranium ore. The radioactive radium nuclide Ra-226 decays by alpha-particle emission with a half-life of 1600 years. 1 year = 3.16x107s. The curie is defined as the number of disintegrations per second from 1.0g of Ra...
  6. B

    Solving for Heat Capacity and Ideal Gas Type in Thermodynamics

    Homework Statement The temperature of one mole of ideal gas is 360K. The gas is allowed to expand adiabatically to the double volume. Then it is compressed isothermally to original volume. The specified amount of heat is measured at 1304J. Determine C_p / C_v, and specify the type of ideal gas...
  7. E

    Why does ice have a lower specific heat capacity ?

    Throughout my time doing physics I have noticed that ice has a lower specific heat capacity than water. I don't understand why. To me it seems that the bonds between water molecules in a solid are stronger and hence require a greater deal of thermal energy to break. Hence, the PE of the...
  8. S

    Heat capacity, expansion while heating and cooking

    When we deal with heat capacity or specific heat capacity Q=mc(delta temperature) why don't we take into consideration about the expansion of the thing? Since expansion (should) increase the potential energy of the item since potential energy is the bond strength which is related to the particle...
  9. M

    Thermo heat capacity proof: cp - cv

    Homework Statement Show that for a general (but simple) substance, c_{p}-c_{v}=-T(\frac{∂v*}{∂T})_{p}(\frac{∂p}{∂v*})_{T} where v* is the specific volume p is the pressure c_{p} is the heat capacity when p is const c_{v} is the heat capacity when v is const Q is heat T is temperature in...
  10. I

    Molar heat capacity in metals and ionic solids

    I am doing my revision and noticed that metals all have a molar heat capacity ~25 J/mol/K = 3R. Ionic solids such as NaCl and CaF2 however have different molar heat capacities. (~51 and 72 respectively) Why is this? there is no explination that my lecturer gave and I can't find it online but...
  11. J

    Measuring specific heat capacity

    I completed high school 9 years ago... please bare with me :) My problem is with how they calculate the actual answer - this is from an example problem in my textbook. Homework Statement A calorimeter cup is made from 0.15kg of Alu and contains 0.20 kg of water. Initially the water and...
  12. M

    Specific Heat Capacity and Energy

    Homework Statement http://www.physics.ox.ac.uk/olympiad/Downloads/PastPapers/BPhO_PC_2006_QP.pdf Q15b Answers: http://www.physics.ox.ac.uk/olympiad/Downloads/PastPapers/BPhO_PC_2006_MS.pdf I am confused on how the answer is reached, specifically how the formula energy...
  13. P

    Why does Ammonia have such a high specific heat capacity?

    I am quite confused by this, because I have not yet found a compound that has a higher one. My understanding is that specific heat capacity of a molecule is based on a combination of the number of degrees of freedom the molecule has and the number of vibrational modes. As for the second factor...
  14. A

    At what phase is the heat capacity the greatest?

    At what phase is the heat capacity the greatest? Is it when the substance is a solid, liquid or gas? Please also explain why. I believe that the heat capacity is the greatest when the subastance is a solid.
  15. L

    Specific heat capacity problem

    A bath contains 100kg of water at 60C. Hot and cold taps are then turned on to deliver 20kg per minute each at temperatures of 70C and 10C respectively. How long will it be before the temperature in the bath has dropped to 45C? Assume complete mixing of the water and ignore heat losses. I've...
  16. M

    Chemistry Problem involving specific heat capacity and energy change

    Homework Statement A cube of gold is heated to a temperature of 94.2 degrees celsius, and then submerged in 31.3 mL of water at an initial temperature of 28.7 degrees celsius. If the final temperature of the water is 45.6 degrees celsius, calculate the volume of the cube of gold (s=0.130...
  17. K

    Calculating Entropy of a Star using Heat Capacity

    Homework Statement Using the viral theorem, the heat capacity of a star is given as C=-3*k/2. Using this, I need to calculate the entropy of a star in terms of the average temperature T, then in terms of U (total energy). Homework Equations dS=C*dT/T The Attempt at a Solution To...
  18. M

    How Does Heat Capacity Change with Volume and Pressure?

    Homework Statement Let C_{X}=T(\partial S/\partial T)_{X} with X=p~or~V. Show that C_{p}-C_{V}=T(\partial S/\partial V)_{T}(\partial V/\partial T)_{p}. Homework Equations C_{p}-C_{V}=T[(\partial S/\partial T)_{p}-(\partial S/\partial T)_{V}] The Attempt at a Solution I honestly don't know...
  19. R

    Specific heat capacity and changing temperature of water

    Homework Statement there is a bath of 160L of water at 41oc (shc 4000). A rock of 15kg is dropped into the bath at 250oc with shc of 2000 What temperature does the water end up at? Homework Equations Q=cmT The Attempt at a Solution Very sorry but I don't have a clue. Not...
  20. L

    Calculating Heat Capacity & Water Flow to Melt Honey Barrels

    Hi there, I am not an engineer but i do have scientific background. It is just a long time since i did any calculations! I am trying to design myself a new way of melting barrels of honey. I have 200L, 300kg barrels of crystalized honey that I need to melt. One method I envisage is to make an...
  21. H

    How Do You Calculate the Final Temperature of Ice Tea Mixing Hot Water and Ice?

    Homework Statement 215 cm3 of hot tea at 95°C are poured into a very thin paper cup with 40 g of crushed ice at 0°C. Calculate the final temperature of the "ice tea". (Hint: think about two processes: melting the ice into liquid and, maybe, warming the liquid.) Homework Equations 0 =...
  22. K

    Relationship between specific heat capacity and power

    What is the the relationship between the specific heat capacity and power (e/t) required to raise the objects temperature? Of course the energy required increases, but does the time it takes change also?
  23. K

    Mastering Heat Capacity Equations for Accurate Temperature Control

    I have a problem with heat capacity of different materials. i know that heat capacity is the mount of energy needed in order to rise the temperature of a material by 1 degree, but i also know that different amount of energy is needed to rise the temperature from 0 to 1 degree and different...
  24. F

    How Much Air Can Be Heated with the Same Energy Used to Warm Water in a Kettle?

    You warm 1.00 kg of water at a constant volume of 1.00 L from 20.0 degrees C to 30.0 degrees C in a kettle. For the same amount of heat, how many kilo grams of 20.0 degree C air would you be able to warm to 30.0 degree C? What volume would this air occupy at 20.0 degrees C and a pressure of 1.00...
  25. Y

    Debye's Assumptions For Heat Capacity

    What are the Debye model`s assumptions for heat capacity or density of states? According to the einstein model we assume that N oscillators of the same frequency [ω][/o] and in one dimention. In three dimention N is replaced by 3N, there being three modes per oscillator.
  26. S

    Can Specific Heat Capacity Be Negative? - Physical Meaning Explained

    Can the specific heat capacity be negative? Is there any substance for which i have to add heat to decrease its temperature? By the way,why specific heat capacity has the word "capacity" in it? Is there any physical significance to it or it is simply traditional(historical)?
  27. F

    How can i determine Specific heat capacity of Water cpv if i know all variables

    How can i determine Specific heat capacity of Water cpv if i know all variables If i use this equation: [(mi1 + mi2 +mv)cpv + mg*cpg]dT/dt = H mi1 = mass 1 dT/dt = 0.05 cpg = 890 J/(kg*K) mi2 = mass 2 mv = mass 3 H = 300 W masses are arbitrary numbers Its cpv that...
  28. T

    Thermodynamic derivation of heat capacity

    Homework Statement cp=cv+TV?^2/? Homework Equations cp=T/N(\partialS/\partialT)p The Attempt at a Solution I have the equation, just not sure how to apply it? Any help would be appreciated
  29. C

    Grade 11 Heat Capacity question

    Homework Statement a 0.20kg lead shot is heated to 90 degrees celsius and dropped into an ideal calorimeter containing 0.50kg of water initially at 20 degrees celsius. What is the final equilibrium temperature of the lead shot? The specific heat capacity of lead is 128 Joules/(kg degrees...
  30. M

    What Is the Heat Capacity in an Isothermal Process?

    Homework Statement The question is presented as picture. Homework Equations What is the expression of this 'heat capacity C'? The x-process is isothermal then C=nCΔT=0? Please give me some ideas. The Attempt at a Solution set V1=V2, V3=V4, T1=T4, T2=T3, p1+p0=p2, p3-p0=p4...
  31. J

    Specific Heat Capacity of metal in water

    Homework Statement An unknown metal with C=3.6 Mass=150g Temp=160c is added to copper container(85g) filled with water(105g) both with an initial temp of 20c I have to find the final temp of water,container and metal Homework Equations none given but I assume it will be E=Cm(t1-t2)...
  32. N

    Specific heat capacity varies with temperature.

    Homework Statement Heating a .8 kg disk of iron from 20 C to 400 C, but the specific heat capacity changes from 456 at 20 C, to 615 at 400 C. It hints that I'm supposed to find the average to solve the equation. Homework Equations E = mC(dT) The Attempt at a Solution I have a...
  33. I

    Specific heat capacity question

    Homework Statement When a car brakes, an amount of thermal energy equal to 112500J is generated in the brake drums. If the mass of the brake drums is 28 kg and their specific heat capacity is 460.5 Jkg^-1K^-1? A piece of iron of mass 200g and temperature 300°C is dropped into 1.00kg of water...
  34. A

    Difference between isobar and isochor heat capacity

    Hello, I want to show: C_p - C_v = -T \big( \frac {\partial V}{\partial p} \big)_{T,n} \big( \frac {\partial p}{\partial T} \big)_{V,n}^2 I started by doing this: C_p - C_v= \big( \frac {\partial H}{\partial T} \big)_{p,N} - \big( \frac {\partial U}{\partial T} \big)_{V,n}...
  35. M

    Solid State Heat capacity optical and acoustic

    Homework Statement A material has 104 atoms in its primitive cell with a speed of sound of 1500 m/s. It is well above the debye temperature. From Cv=3kb per atom, we calculate the volumetric heat capacity of 1.4*10^6 J m^-3 K^-1. What fraction of he heat capacity is in the acoustic branches...
  36. B

    Heat capacity / letent heat question

    Homework Statement An ice cube of mass 40g is transferred directly from the freezer where it is at -8 CELSIUS to a cup containing 120g of water at 95 degrees CELSIUS. Calculate the final temperature of water. Ignore any heat transfer to the cup or its surroundings Homework Equations tf = ti +...
  37. D

    Specific Heat Capacity Question Mixture Q=MCdeltaT

    Homework Statement A mixture is made by adding 75g of an unknown liquid at a temperature of 25 degrees Celsius to 60g of water at a temperature of 90 degrees Celsius. The final temperature f the mixture is 65 degrees Celsius. Calculate the specific heat capacity of the liquid. What is the...
  38. N

    Heat Capacity v Specific heat capacity?

    Homework Statement what is the different in term of definition between Heat capacity and Specific heat capacity ? Homework Equations Q=mΔTC →C=Q/mΔT The Attempt at a Solution Specific heat capacity is the amount needed per unit mass of material so is a number independent of the...
  39. I

    Calculating Heat Capacity of Krypton at 90K

    Homework Statement Atoms of the inert gas Krypton are adsorbed onto a smooth solid surface at 90K. They can move freely over the surface but they cannot leave it. For a sample with total surface area 2.5 m^2, and a surface density 3 nm-2, what is the heat capacity of the krypton? Homework...
  40. F

    Heat Capacity Power Series Approximation

    Homework Statement "Derive a more accurate approximation for the heat capacity at high temperatures, by keeping terms through x^{3} in the expansions of the exponentials and then carefully expanding the denominator and multiplying everything out. Throw away terms that will be smaller than...
  41. H

    Pressure dependence of the Heat Capacity

    I am trying to understand the nature of the dependence of heat capacity/specific heat on pressure. I understand that one may give the the following relations: \frac{C_p}{C_v}=1+\alpha\gamma T where C_p,C_v,\alpha,\gamma, and T are isoberic specific heat, isochoric specific heat, thermal...
  42. J

    Heat Capacity Database: Find Common Substances Data

    hello, I'd like to know if there is any heat capacity database of some common substances. I've searched the internet for a while and I haven't found anything so it would be really kind if someone could provide me this data or link/refernce to it, because now I really need it for a project...
  43. B

    Calculate Specific Heat Capacity HELP

    Calculate Specific Heat Capacity HELP! Hi guys, I having big troubles with how to calculate the specific heat (cp) for refrigerant r134a i gas phase. I think that assuming ideal gas behavior is a bad idea since this is going to be used in a actual system... I have values of entropy...
  44. N

    Derivation of the Debye Specific Heat Capacity

    Homework Statement Hello everyone! I'm using the text: "Elements of Solid State Physics - JP Srivastava (2006)" I have followed the argument leading up to the derivation of the Debye formula for specific heat capacity, so we now have; C_V = \frac{9N}{\omega_D^3} \frac{\partial}{\partial T}...
  45. A

    Specific heat capacity and temperature

    Why does the specific heat capacity of an object changes with temperature?Please explain in detail.Thanks..
  46. N

    Hot metal added to Water, Heat Capacity Problem

    Homework Statement A 100.0 g copper sample (specific heat 0.385 J/g K) at 100 C is added to 50.0 g of water at 26.5 C. What is the final temperature of the copper-water mixture? Homework Equations q = q(copper) + q(water) q = (heat capacity)(change in Temp.) q = (specific...
  47. M

    Solving a Student's Experiment on an Ideal Gas: Molar Specific Heat Capacity

    Homework Statement A student performs an experiment on an ideal gas by adding 42.0 J of heat to it. As a result the student finds that the volume of the gas changes from 50 cm3 to 150 cm3 while the pressure remains constant at 101.3 kPa. i) If the quantity of the gas present is 0.007...
  48. L

    Calculate the heat capacity at constant volume and constant pressure.

    Homework Statement I am given the amount of moles of gas, how many joules of heat I put into the system, and a positive change in temperature. Then it says "calculate the molar heat capacities at constant volume and constant pressure of the gas." Homework Equations q=CT, C(constant...
  49. I

    Heat integral and molar heat capacity?

    dQ = nCvdT if volume is constant. However, n = pV/RT. What I don't understand is, why are we thinking n as constant when doing the integral? I had two problems that involved this on a test I had today. At first I kept it constant and then changed n. But then I thought, wait... isn't there a T...
  50. E

    Calorimetry(determination of specific heat capacity)

    can we determine a specific heat of a sample by cooling it to the temperature of ice rather than heating it to the boiling point of water?
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