Lesson 1.3 - Specific Heat Capacity Calculations

Three factors affect the quantity of heat that an object will absorb or release:

  • mass of the object
  • temperature change
  • the specific heat capacity of the object 

You will use Table 6.1 on page 109 of your textbook to perform some calculations.

Example 1:

According to the table, the specific heat capacity of motor oil is 2.00 J/g" °C.  How much heat would 1.00 g of motor oil absorb if the temperature was increased by 1.00°C?

Solution:
You will use the formula as follows:

q = mcDt 

in which

q is the heat (the unknown in this example)
m is the mass;  (1.00 g)
c is the specific heat capacity;  (2.00 J/g" °C)
Dt  is the change in temperature;  (1.00°C)

Now, enter all the numbers into the formula:

q = mcDt  
q  = (1.00 g)´(2.00 J/g" °C)´(1.00°C)
q  = 2.00 J

Did you see how the calculation was done?  The three numbers were multiplied.  Try it yourself; then, try this one.

Question 1. How much heat would 1.00 g of copper absorb if the temperature was increased by 1.00°C?

Then, return here to continue this lesson.

 

 

Did you get it right?  Congratulations if you did.  If you got it wrong, go over the calculation again to be sure you understand how it is done before you try the following.

Question 2. How much heat would 1.00 g of water absorb if the temperature was increased by 1.00°C?

Question 3. How much heat would 1.00 g of iron absorb if the temperature was increased by 1.00°C? 

 

Then, return here to continue this lesson.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Answers to Questions:

Question 1. How much heat would 1.00 g of copper absorb if the temperature was increased by 1.00°C?

q = mcDt  
q = (1.00 g)´(0.38 J/g" °C)´(1.00°C)
q = 0.38 J

 

Click to return to where you left off in this lesson.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Answers to Questions:

Question 2. How much heat would 1.00 g of water absorb if the temperature was increased by 1.00°C?

q = mcDt 
q = (1.00 g)´(0.38 J/g" °C)´(1.00°C)
q = 0.38 J

Question 3. How much heat would 1.00 g of iron absorb if the temperature was increased by 1.00°C? 

q = mcDt  
q = (1.00 g)´(0.45 J/g" °C)´(1.00°C)
q = 0.45 J


Go to the next page to continue Lesson 1.