In the heating formula Q = m c ΔT, what does c represent?

In the heating formula Q = m c ΔT, what does c represent?

• A. Mass
• B. Specific heat capacity
• C. Temperature change
• D. Latent heat

Answer: (B)

Specific heat capacity is what c represents. It tells you how much energy is needed to raise the temperature of 1 kilogram of a substance by 1 kelvin. Different materials have different c values, so they store heat differently. In Q = m c ΔT, Q is the heat added, m is mass, and ΔT is the change in temperature; multiplying these by c tells you how much energy is required for that substance, for that amount of mass and temperature change. The units are joules per kilogram per kelvin. Latent heat applies to phase changes and would involve a different term, so this formula describes sensible heating where temperature changes.

Specific heat capacity is what c represents. It tells you how much energy is needed to raise the temperature of 1 kilogram of a substance by 1 kelvin. Different materials have different c values, so they store heat differently. In Q = m c ΔT, Q is the heat added, m is mass, and ΔT is the change in temperature; multiplying these by c tells you how much energy is required for that substance, for that amount of mass and temperature change. The units are joules per kilogram per kelvin. Latent heat applies to phase changes and would involve a different term, so this formula describes sensible heating where temperature changes.