# T/F The specific heat of copper is about 3R

1. May 18, 2015

### johnqwertyful

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

This was a problem I had on a stat mech exam awhile ago and I never figured out how to answer it. It asked "True or false, the specific heat of copper at room temperature is approximately $3R$".

2. Relevant equations

$$C=\frac{Q}{\Delta T}$$

3. The attempt at a solution

Honestly, I was totally confused what to do. This was a test with no tables of specific heat, no periodic table, no nothing. Normally I would just look it up but I couldn't in this case. Is there a way of deriving this from principles? Or is it something I should have memorized?

Last edited: May 18, 2015
2. May 18, 2015

### TSny

3. May 18, 2015

### johnqwertyful

I have literally never heard of that law. Thanks for the resource! Maybe it was covered in the class, but I don't remember it ever coming up. Although it's nice to know that it's something I could have reasonably known.