The rate of temperature change

[veritassium]

Main Question or Discussion Point

I'd like to ask how to calculate the rate at which the temperature changes, knowing the power input and the specific heat capacity of an object?

 

[Mapes]

Hi veritassium, welcome to PF. You can't, without also knowing the mass of the object. The rate of temperature change is the power input divided by the specific heat capacity and the mass. Note that this solution assumes that temperature gradients within the object are negligible. Make sure to check the units.

 

[veritassium]

Thank you very much

 

[Bob S]

Also, the heat conduction as well as heat capacity is important for finite size objects. Yo will need differential equations to solve these problems.

 

[dE_logics]

You also gotta use Newton's law of cooling...much more to this.