What is the Difference Between Heat Capacity and Specific Heat?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The main difference between heat capacity and specific heat lies in the mass of the substance being considered. Here are the key differences:
- Heat Capacity: This is the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of an object by 1°C (or 1 K). It depends on both the mass and the chemical composition of the object. The units for heat capacity are joules per Kelvin (J/K).
- Specific Heat: This is the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of 1 gram of a substance by 1°C (or 1 K). It is an intensive property, meaning it is independent of the amount of substance present. The units for specific heat are joules per gram per degree Celsius (J/g°C).
In summary:
- Heat capacity is the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of an object by a certain amount, depending on its mass and chemical composition.
- Specific heat is the amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of 1 gram of a substance by a certain amount, independent of the amount of substance present.
On this pageWhat is the Difference Between Heat Capacity and Specific Heat? Comparative Table: Heat Capacity vs Specific Heat
Comparative Table: Heat Capacity vs Specific Heat
Heat capacity and specific heat capacity are related but distinct concepts. Here is a table highlighting the differences between them:
| Property | Heat Capacity | Specific Heat Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Heat capacity is the amount of heat required to change the temperature of a given amount of matter. | Specific heat capacity is the amount of heat required to change the temperature of a unit mass of a substance. |
| Unit Mass | Heat capacity is not gated by unit mass. | Specific heat capacity is calculated per unit mass of a substance. |
| Units | The SI unit of heat capacity is Joules per Kelvin (J/K). | The SI unit of specific heat capacity is Joules per Kelvin per Kilogram (J/K/kg). |
| Formula | The formula for heat capacity is Q = m × c × ΔT, where Q is the amount of heat, m is the mass, c is the specific heat capacity, and ΔT is the change in temperature. | The formula for specific heat capacity is Q = m × c × ΔT, where Q is the amount of heat, m is the mass, c is the specific heat capacity, and ΔT is the change in temperature. |
In summary, heat capacity is the amount of heat required to change the temperature of a given amount of matter, while specific heat capacity is the amount of heat required to change the temperature of a unit mass of a substance. Specific heat capacity can be obtained by dividing heat capacity by the mass of the sample.
Read more:
- Specific Heat Capacity vs Heat Capacity
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- Heat vs Temperature
- Thermal vs Heat
- Thermal Energy vs Temperature
- Light Energy vs Heat Energy
- Heat Transfer vs Thermodynamics
- Energy vs Enthalpy
- Work vs Heat
- Free Energy vs Enthalpy
- Heat Flow vs Heat Flux
- Heat of Solution vs Heat of Reaction
- Thermal Conductivity vs Heat Transfer Coefficient
- Latent Heat vs Sensible Heat
- Kinetic Energy vs Temperature
- Thermochemistry vs Thermodynamics
- Enthalpy vs Molar Enthalpy
- Enthalpy vs Internal Energy