Heat Capacity Equation

Reference from the original Physics I textbook.

$Q = C (T_{f} - T_{i})$

$C = Heat Capacity (J/K)$
$T_{f} = Final Temperature (^{\circ} C)$
$T_{i} = Initial Temperature (^{\circ} C)$
$Q = Heat (J)$

$[1 Joule = \frac{kg \cdot m^{2}}{s^{2}}]$

Related Glossary Terms

Heat Capacity, Heat Capacity per Unit Massⓘ

Index

Chapter 7 - FFR - Thermal Expansion

Glossary and deeper reading · 2 refreshers

These editorial refreshers supplement the reading. Definitions and examples are added guidance; original source wording and recorded answers remain in their original context.

Heat capacity
Heat capacity is the energy needed to raise the temperature of an entire object by one temperature unit under specified conditions. For a uniform sample in the simple constant-specific-heat model, it equals mass times specific heat. For example, twice as much of the same material has twice the heat capacity when its state and specific heat are unchanged.
Specific heat
Specific heat is the energy needed per unit mass for a unit temperature increase under the stated conditions. Its units are joules per kilogram per kelvin, and the simple calorimetry model treats it as constant without a phase change. For example, equal masses of two materials can require different energy transfers for the same temperature rise.
Read more: Specific heat →

Heat Capacity Equation

Heat capacity

Specific heat

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