Today we are going to discuss on Define specific heat capacity, thermal capacity and water equivalent with their units. Thermodynamics is the branch of physics that deals with the study of heat and its relationship with other forms of energy. The behavior of matter under different temperature conditions is a significant aspect of this field. The capacity of a material to store heat energy is an essential concept in thermodynamics. In this article, we will define and discuss specific heat capacity, thermal capacity, and water equivalent, along with their units.
Table of Contents
Heat capacity, thermal capacity and water equivalent with their units
Specific Heat Capacity:
Specific Heat Capacity, also known as specific heat, is the amount of heat energy required to raise the temperature of one unit mass of a substance by one degree Celsius (or one Kelvin). It is a fundamental property of a material and is denoted by the symbol ‘c.’ The unit of specific heat capacity is joules per kilogram per degree Celsius (J/kg°C) or joules per kilogram per Kelvin (J/kgK).
Different substances have different specific heat capacities, which means that the amount of heat energy required to raise the temperature of different materials by the same amount will be different. For example, water has a higher specific heat capacity than most other common substances. This is why it takes longer to heat up water than other materials.
Thermal Capacity:
Thermal Capacity is the amount of heat energy required to raise the temperature of a substance by a given amount. It is defined as the product of the mass of the substance and its specific heat capacity. The thermal capacity of a material is denoted by the symbol ‘C.’ The unit of thermal capacity is joules per degree Celsius (J/°C) or joules per Kelvin (J/K).
Thermal capacity is a useful concept in determining the amount of heat energy required to change the temperature of a substance. It is particularly important when dealing with large systems, such as buildings or industrial processes, where the thermal capacity of the materials involved can have a significant impact on the amount of energy required to achieve a desired temperature change.
Water Equivalent:
Water Equivalent is a term used to describe the thermal capacity of a calorimeter, which is an instrument used to measure the heat energy released or absorbed during a chemical reaction or physical change. The water equivalent is defined as the mass of water that would require the same amount of heat energy to raise its temperature by the same amount as the calorimeter.
The water equivalent is denoted by the symbol ‘W,’ and its unit is in kilograms. The water equivalent of a calorimeter is an important parameter in determining the accuracy of the calorimeter’s measurements. The smaller the water equivalent, the more accurate the calorimeter will be.
Specific heat capacity, thermal capacity, and water equivalent are essential concepts in thermodynamics. Specific heat capacity is the amount of heat energy required to raise the temperature of a substance by one degree Celsius, thermal capacity is the amount of heat energy required to raise the temperature of a substance by a given amount, and water equivalent is the thermal capacity of a calorimeter. These concepts, along with their units, are fundamental to the understanding and application of thermodynamics.
See more:
- Physics – 2 (65922) Course
- Define heat and temperature.
- Mention the units of measurement of heat and temperature.
- Distinguish between heat and temperature.
- Identify the range of the Celsius scale determined by the boiling point and melting point of water
- State the construction and graduation of a mercury thermometer
6 thoughts on “Define specific heat capacity, thermal capacity and water equivalent with their units”