What are the SI units for specific heat capacity
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The SI unit for specific heat capacity is joule per kilogram per degree Celsius (J/kg·°C) or joule per kilogram per kelvin (J/kg·K). Both units are equivalent because a change of 1°C is the same as a change of 1 K, meaning they are interchangeable in this context.
Explanation:
Specific heat capacity, also known simply as specific heat, is the amount of heat energy required to raise the temperature of a unit mass of a substance by one degree Celsius (or Kelvin). It is an intrinsic property of the material, which means it does not depend on the amount of substance present, but rather on the substance itself.
The formula for specific heat capacity is:Q=mcΔTQ = mc\Delta TQ=mcΔT
Where:
- QQQ is the heat energy added or removed (in joules, J),
- mmm is the mass of the substance (in kilograms, kg),
- ccc is the specific heat capacity (in J/kg·°C or J/kg·K),
- ΔT\Delta TΔT is the change in temperature (in °C or K).
In this equation, the unit of heat energy is joules (J), and the unit of mass is kilograms (kg). Since the specific heat capacity relates energy and temperature change, its units are derived as follows:
- The unit for heat energy is joules (J), which is equivalent to 1 kg·m²/s².
- The unit for mass is kilograms (kg).
- The unit for temperature change is degrees Celsius (°C) or Kelvin (K).
Therefore, specific heat capacity is expressed in joules per kilogram per degree Celsius (J/kg·°C) or joules per kilogram per kelvin (J/kg·K). This tells us how much energy (in joules) is needed to raise the temperature of 1 kilogram of a substance by 1 degree Celsius or Kelvin.
