Specific Heat Capacity

This lesson covers specific heat capacity (SHC) as required by the Edexcel GCSE Physics specification (1PH0), Topic 3: Conservation of Energy. You need to understand what SHC means, use the equation in calculations, and know the core practical for investigating SHC.

---

What Is Specific Heat Capacity?

Specific heat capacity is the amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of 1 kg of a substance by 1 °C (or 1 K).

Every substance has its own SHC — it is a property of the material, not the object.

The Equation

$\Delta E = m c \Delta \theta$ΔE=mcΔθ

Where:

• ΔE = change in thermal energy (joules, J)
• m = mass (kilograms, kg)
• c = specific heat capacity (joules per kilogram per degree Celsius, J/kg°C)
• Δθ = change in temperature (degrees Celsius, °C)

Units

Quantity	Unit
Energy (ΔE)	joules (J)
Mass (m)	kilograms (kg)
Specific heat capacity (c)	J/kg°C (or J/kg K)
Temperature change (Δθ)	°C (or K)