Specific heat capacity: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 20:17, 20 May 2004

Revision as of 21:40, 21 May 2004

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[[de:Spezifische Wärmekapazität]][[ja:比熱容量]] [[nl:specifieke warmte]] [[sl:specifična toplota]]

'''Specific heat capacity''' (abbreviated '''s''', also called '''specific heat''') is the [[heat]] required to raise the [[temperature]] of 1 [[gram|g]] of a substance by one degree. Actually, this is only an approximation of heat capacity. An approximation is possible becuase measuring the slope ([[derivative]]) of the internal [[energy]] due to random motion of [[atom]]s in a sample as a function of [[temperature]], normalized by dividing by the [[mass]] of the sample. Because the internal energy curve, is normally almost linear, it can be approximated by measuring the [[heat]] required to raise the [[temperature]] of 1 [[gram|g]] of a substance by one degree. The [[SI unit]] for specific heat capacity is ''joule per kilogram per kelvin'' ''(J·kg^-1·K^-1)''. 1 J·kg^-1·K^-1 is identical to 1 m²/(s²·K), which is non-intuitive, but involves only SI base units.

Factors that influence heat capacity measurements: