What is the Difference Between Specific Heat Capacity and Heat Capacity?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The main difference between specific heat capacity and heat capacity lies in the mass component of the calculation. Both concepts deal with the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of a substance, but specific heat capacity is calculated per unit mass of a substance, while heat capacity is the total amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of an object.
- Specific Heat Capacity: This is the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of 1 gram of a substance by 1 degree Celsius. It is calculated using the formula: $$c = \frac{Q}{m∆T}$$, where 'c' is the specific heat capacity, 'Q' is the amount of heat, 'm' is the mass, and '∆T' is the change in temperature. The SI unit of specific heat capacity is Joules per Kelvin per Kilogram (J/K/kg).
- Heat Capacity: This is the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of an object by 1 degree Celsius. It is calculated using the formula: $$C = \frac{Q}{∆T}$$, where 'C' is the heat capacity and 'Q' is the amount of heat. The SI unit of heat capacity is Joules per Kelvin (J/K).
In summary:
- Specific heat capacity is the amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of 1 gram of a substance by 1 degree Celsius, calculated per unit mass.
- Heat capacity is the total amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of an object by 1 degree Celsius.
Comparative Table: Specific Heat Capacity vs Heat Capacity
The main difference between heat capacity and specific heat capacity lies in the mass factor. Here is a comparison between the two:
| Heat Capacity | Specific Heat Capacity |
|---|---|
| Refers to the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of a substance | Refers to the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of a substance per unit mass |
| Formula: Q = m∆T | Formula: Q = mc ∆T |
| SI unit: Joule per Kelvin (J/K) | SI unit: Joule per Kelvin per Kilogram (J/K/kg) |
Heat capacity is the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of a substance, while specific heat capacity is the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of a substance per unit mass. In other words, specific heat capacity takes into account the mass of the substance, whereas heat capacity does not.
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