Can Specific Heat Capacity Be Negative? - Physical Meaning Explained

[SandeshPhy]

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)?

 

[JHamm]

Heat is the kinetic energy of random movements of atoms, if an object were able to give off energy and produce more heat it would violate conservation of energy.