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In this lesson you will learn what specific heat capacity means, how to use the equation linking energy, mass, specific heat capacity, and temperature change, and why different materials heat up at different rates. This is part of AQA GCSE Combined Science Trilogy (8464), Section 6.1.
Specific heat capacity is the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of 1 kg of a substance by 1 °C (or 1 K).
Different materials have different specific heat capacities. A material with a high specific heat capacity requires more energy to increase its temperature and also releases more energy when it cools.
| Material | Specific Heat Capacity (J/kg °C) |
|---|---|
| Water | 4200 |
| Aluminium | 900 |
| Copper | 390 |
| Iron | 450 |
| Lead | 130 |
| Oil | 2000 |
Exam Tip: Water has a very high specific heat capacity. This is why it is used in central heating systems — it can store and release large amounts of energy. AQA frequently asks you to explain practical applications using this fact.
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