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. S

    Specific heat capacity and latent heat.

    a 210 heater is places in 2 kg of water. What temperature rise is produced if the heater is switched on for 200 seconds? I need your help please.
  2. U

    Physics refraction and Specific heat capacity problem

    I am a IGCSE student! Ok so in the physics w08 qp ( http://www.xtremepapers.net/CIE/Cambridge%20IGCSE/0625%20-%20Physics/0625_w08_qp_03.pdf ) Qestion 5 c Using a 40 W heater, 16.3 g of ice is melted in 2.0 minutes. The heater is then switched off. In a further 2.0 minutes, 2.1 g of ice...
  3. E

    How Is Thermal Energy Absorbed in a Calorimeter Experiment with Tin?

    Homework Statement Find the quantity of thermal energy absorbed but the water in the calorimeter. Mass of metal sample:69.64g Water sample: Volume 190mL Temp: 24'C boiling water: 275mL temp of boiling water:90'C Sample in Calorimeter Initial Heat: 25'C 30 seconds: 26'C 60 seconds 26'C 90...
  4. S

    Molar heat capacity for an ideal monoatomic gas

    A monatomic ideal gas undergoes a process in which the ratio of P to V at any instant is constant and equals to 1. What is the molar heat capacity of the gas? (A) 4R/2 (B) 3R/2 (C) 5R/2 (D) 0
  5. P

    Heat capacity temperature of blood

    Homework Statement Blood can carry excess energy from the interior to the surface of the body, where the energy is dispersed in a number of ways. While a person is exercising, 0.8 kg of blood flows to the surface of the body and releases 1300 J of energy. The blood arriving at the surface...
  6. D

    Specific heat capacity lab (DUE TOMORROW PLEASE HELP)

    Homework Statement I heated 50mL of water in a Dewar and measured the temp. change with time. however, this only gives me the heat capacity of the system. I again measured but with 100mL of water, in an attempt to correct for the unknown heat capacity of everything but the water. However...
  7. N

    Unknown SPecific Heat Capacity

    Homework Statement In order to find the specific heat capacity of an unknown material, a 50g piece is heated to 80 degrees Celsius and fully immersed in a well insulatyed calorimeter filled with 100g of water at 10 degrees Celsius raising the temperature of the water by 5 degrees, the heat...
  8. M

    Specific Heat Capacity Question - Unknown Mass

    Q. Thermal energy is supplied to a melting solid at a constant rate of 2000 W. Calculate the mass of the solid changed to liquid in 2.0 minutes. Assume that the specific latent heat of fusion of the solid is 95 000 J kg-1 and that heat exchange with the surroundings may be neglected. I was...
  9. M

    Heat Capacity Ratio of Nitrogen for 2 Velocities

    Homework Statement This is more of a conceptual question. I understand that the heat capacity ratio is basically the ratio between the heat capacity at constant pressure to the heat capacity at constant volume. I was asked to calculate the ratio of heat capacities for Nitrogen at two speeds...
  10. P

    Specific Heat Capacity of Ice, Help

    Homework Statement The following data is obtained: Weight of ice cube added 20 g Weight of copper calorimeter 80.5 g Weight of water in calorimeter 105 g Initial temp of ice cube -18 deg C Initial temp of water 23 deg C Final temp of water 6 deg C Specific Heat Capacity copper 385 J...
  11. A

    Zero point energy from Heat Capacity vs Temperature Curve

    A table gives the values of heat capacity at constant volume of pure germanium estimate its vibrational zero point energy. The vibrational zero point energy is just the missing 'area' in the plot of Cv vs T. I have plotted heat capacity versus T and calculated the zero point energy. What...
  12. D

    Which liquid have low specific heat capacity

    can you please state some liquid which is a good heat conductor (which have low specific heat capacity)
  13. S

    Specific Heat Capacity and Thermal Conductivity

    Homework Statement To summarize, I am given 6 objects and their corresponding specific heat capacity and thermal conductivity values. All objects have the same mass. The question is asking me to rank the objects based on temperature if they are put in a hot oven until they reach thermal...
  14. D

    Specific Heat Capacity of a cylinder in boiling water

    Homework Statement Finding the specific heat capacity of an unknown metal. A cylinder was placed into boiling water, originally at 24.2 C. The heat transferred from the metal, and the water then was 29.5 C. Original Temperature-24.2 C Temperature after the metal has been placed into the...
  15. T

    Specific Heat Capacity Question

    A bath contains 110 litres of water where 1 litre has a mass of 1kg. a) Given that the specific heat capacity of water is 4200JKg-1K-1, calculate the energy required to raise the temperature of the water from 10'C to 40'C. b) As the water flows through the copper pipes, it is heated from...
  16. D

    Someone me specific heat capacity?

    "What is the specific heat capacity of a 50-gram piece of 100 degree C metal that will change 400 grams of 20 degrees C water to 22 degrees C? Could someone please explain to me how to do this problem? I have to figure it out on my own because my teacher is no help at all. Thanks in advance.
  17. J

    Heat capacity ratio for diatomic gases

    Calculate the heat capacity ratio for a diatomic ideal gas. ---- Using the equipartition theorem, I calculate: Cp / Cv = (Cv + R) / Cv = (7/2 R + R) / (7/2 R) = (9/2 R) / (7/2 R) = 9/7 ~ 1.286 According to the equipartition theorem, I assign each vibrational degree of freedom 1 R and...
  18. M

    Resistor: Low Heat Capacity, Low TCR, Constant heat dissipation

    I am looking for a resistor that can dissipate a constant amount of heat at all temperatures immediately. I have been using some metal film/oxide resistors, but it takes a very long time before the resistor starts radiating heat. I think the material making up the resistor has such a high...
  19. M

    Heat Capacity & Temperature Changes

    Homework Statement Quistions: 1-adding the same amount of heat to two samples does not produce the same increase in temperature. What physical parameters of hte bodies might be different? 2-We have a sample of metal with mass m. We supply an amount of heat Q and the temperature rises...
  20. L

    Need help with basic specific heat capacity problem

    Homework Statement The specific heat of a certain metal can be determined by measuring the temperature change that occurs when a piece of the metal is heated and then placed in an insulated container that is made of the same material and contains water. Suppose the piece of metal has a mass of...
  21. P

    Determine the Specific Heat Capacity

    Hello, everyone. Homework Statement Now, I recently did an experiment in school to determine the Specific Heat Capacity of rubber using a calorimeter. We're using the mixing method to figure it out. The mass of the calorimeter, rubber and water was measured. And the S.H.C is already known...
  22. E

    Distance between hydrogen molecules in H2 using specific heat capacity

    Homework Statement Below about 80 K the heat capacity at constant volume for hydrogen gas (H2) is 3/2k per molecule, but at higher temperatures the heat capacity increases to 5/2k per molecule due to contributions from rotational energy states. Use these observations to estimate the distance...
  23. L

    Specific Heat Capacity: Mass, Temp, Time Factors

    Is it possible to find specific heat capacity given mass, initial and final temperature, and time? The liquid in question has not been given
  24. C

    Specific heat capacity and friction

    1. The tangential frictional force exerted by a band brakes on a rotating metal drum of circumference 0.25m is found to be 20N. If the mass of the drum is 0.4kg and its specific heat capacity is 0.35 kJ/kg K, calculate the number of complete revolutions of the drum are required to increase its...
  25. P

    Kirchhoff's Law (thermodynamics), change in heat capacity

    Homework Statement Calculate the standard enthalpy change (##\Delta H##) at 25 degrees Celsius and 927 degrees Cesius for the reaction, WCl4(g) + CH4(g) = WC(s) + 4HCl(g) Data: WCl4(g): ##\Delta H298## = -336 kJ/mole; Cp (heat capacity at constant pressure) = 105.6 J/mol*K HCl(g): ##\Delta...
  26. H

    Is there a formula for combining heat capacities of liquids and gases?

    Hi, I was woindering if anyone can help me on a problem I have been stuck on for a while now. I have an equation to combine the heat capcity of oil and water, but I can't find an equation anywhere that combines the heat capacities for water oil and gas. All i have is CpL =...
  27. C

    How to measure specific heat capacity of tap water using a microwave oven

    Hi, Can someone please give me some suggestions on how to use a microwave oven to determine the specific heat capacity of tap water? This is not a homework question, but an assignment and I have absolutely no idea how I can do this.This experiment will be done at home, so please no immersion...
  28. K

    Convert ml to grams for a Heat Capacity and Specific Heat problem, is that possible?

    Homework Statement Is it possible to convert ml to grams for a Heat Capacity and Specific Heat type of problem? The problems that I have done so far did not use ml at all. I am stuck with the following problem: A piece of stainless steel (specific heat = 0.50 J g-1 oC-1 ) is taken from an...
  29. T

    Proof that Heat Capacity is independent of Pressure for a new Equation of State

    For a gas that obeys the equation of State P(v-b) = RT, where b is a constant, show that Cp is independent of Pressure, i.e., (\deltaCp/\deltap) at constant T is equal to zero Homework Equations Maxwell Relations H = U+PV dh = TdS + PdV dh/dT at constant P is defined as Cp The...
  30. J

    Degrees of freedom affect on heat capacity ratio

    Homework Statement Why would vibrational and rotational degrees of freedom affect the heat capacity ratio more for N2 and CO2 than He or Ar? Would this occur at room temperatures? Homework Equations d.o.f.: 3N vibrational d.o.f., linear molecule: 3N - 5 nonlinear: 3N - 6 The...
  31. E

    Derive the expression for isothermal change in Constant Volume Heat Capacity

    Homework Statement Derive the following expression for calculating the isothermal change in Constant Volume Heat Capacity: (dCv/dV)T = T(d2P/dT2)V Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution I have no idea, please help
  32. S

    Should I average the following when calculating heat capacity?

    Homework Statement Make that specific heat capacity xD Well anyways, I did 5 trials trying to calculate the specific heat capacity of copper. I measured the temperature of metal, initial temperature of water, final temperature of water, calorimeter mass, mass of water etc. When I'm...
  33. A

    Heat capacity of a solid using the Einstein model

    Homework Statement Plot the heat capacity as a function of temperature for aluminium, using the Einstein model. Homework Equations The Einstein model for heat capacity: The Attempt at a Solution The model assumes that the frequencies of all the harmonic oscillators in the material are...
  34. F

    Specific heat capacity, latent heat => ice water steam mixture

    Homework Statement A quantity of 100g of ice at 0°C and 50g steam at 100°C are added to a container that has 150g water at 30°C. What is the final temp of the container? Ignore the container itself in the calc. Homework Equations Q=mc (change in T) Q=mLThe Attempt at a Solution I know how to...
  35. K

    Specific heat capacity of a mystery metal

    i found the average specific heat of a metal through an experiment it is 200. my only problem now is identifying it. i have tried many website but can't find anything useful please make some suggestions
  36. F

    Specific heat capacity

    can anybody tell me how the specific heat capacity varies with pressure and temperature for superheated vapors thanks
  37. N

    Heat capacity problemhelpplease

    Homework Statement to determine the specific heat of a metal alloy, a 0.150 kg of the substance is heated to 400 degrees C ad then placed in a 0.20 kg aluminum calorimeter containing 0.40 kg of water. if a 14 g of ice is placed on it and the mixture reached the temperature of 30.5 degrees C...
  38. N

    What Is the Specific Heat Capacity of Different Types of Bronze?

    what is the spec heat capacity of bronze?? pls tell me..i can't find on the net and it's the only thing i need to solve my homewrk problem..
  39. S

    Find the heat capacity of the system

    Homework Statement A system posesses three energy levels E1=ε, E2=2ε, E3=3ε with degeneracies g(E1)=g(E3)=1 , g(E2)=2 Find the heat capacity of the system. Homework Equations Z=e-βε+e-2βε+e-3βε d2lnZ/dβ2=kT2C The Attempt at a Solution i got the partition function and then...
  40. R

    How Do You Calculate the Power of a Heater in a Vending Machine?

    Just revising for my practical physics exam tomorrow and got stuck on this! not sure if its correct, just annpyed me that i was unsure! Homework Statement A vending machine for serving hot drinks has a tank of capacity 7.5 litres, and the manufactuurers say that 45 cups of hot water (at 99o...
  41. N

    Anharmonic Oscillator Heat Capacity

    Homework Statement Consider the anharmonic potential U(x)=cx2-gx3-fx4 and show that the approximate heat capacity of the classical unharmonic oscillator in one dimension is C=kb[1+(3f/2c2+15g2/8c3)kbT] Homework Equations U(x)=cx2-gx3-fx4 and heat capacity is C=dU/dT The...
  42. M

    What is negative heat capacity ?

    what is" negative heat capacity"? what is "negative heat capacity"? what is the example of it?
  43. S

    Calculate the specific heat capacity of this metal

    When a 35 gram piece of some metal at 100°C is placed in water, it loses 775 calories of heat while cooling to 30°C. Calculate the specific heat capacity of this metal. Q = mc(DELTA)T T = 70 degrees C m = 35 g Q = 775 cal ?? When i plugged it in i got 0.34 but the program said it...
  44. G

    Solve Heat Capacity Question: 12kg Water, 15.4°C to 93°C

    Homework Statement hey guys I've got a question. 'calculate the amount of heat necessary to raise the temperture of 12kg of water from 15.4degrees to 93 degrees. My working= h=mCdelatT m=12000 C? Delta T=77.6K just wondering how i find C? (heat capacity) thansk for any help...
  45. C

    Specific Heat Capacity Question

    Homework Statement How much milk at 11 degrees Celcius was added to 0.16 kg of coffee at 91 degrees Celcius if the final temperature is 76.8 degrees Celcius? Homework Equations Well my teacher explained how to rearrange cm∆T = cm∆T to somehow come up with an equation to solve for the...
  46. L

    How does the Einstein model explain the low heat capacity of diamond?

    http://www.ph.ed.ac.uk/~pmonthou/Statistical-Mechanics/documents/SM9.pdf In the third last paragraph of p36, we are told that the Einstein model discussed in this lecture succesfully explains the low heat capacity of diamond - i can't however see how it does, or at least find an explanation...
  47. C

    Specific Heat Capacity Problem

    Homework Statement How much ice was added to a 0.75 kg jug of lemonade at 15 degrees celcius if the final temperature of the jug is 8 degrees celcius? (Assume the lemonade has the specific heat capacity of water.) Homework Equations Q = cm∆T The Attempt at a Solution Well I think I...
  48. T

    Relation between heat capacity and internal energy

    The task is to derive an expression for the heat capacity of a system at constant volume and show that at high temperatures it is inversely proportional to the square of temperature. As far as I'm concerned the relation between internal energy and heat capacity is: Cv=dE/dT However with...
  49. G

    What is the Total Heat Capacity of the Calorimeter?

    Homework Statement 50ml of water at 49.6 C were mixed with 50ml of water at 25.1 C in a calorimeter also at 25.1 C. The final temperature was 30.1 C Assuming that neither the density of water nor its specific heat capacity change with temperature, calculate the total heat capacity of the...
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