Case 1
- Heat energy added
- 4184J
- Temperature rise
- 10K
418.40J/K
Open with these valuesHeat Capacity Calculator
418.40J/K
Result: 418.40 J/KHeat capacity is the energy an object swallows per kelvin of warming: C = Q ÷ ΔT. The rise is a difference, so 10 K and 10 °C are the same number here. The answer describes the whole object — divide by its mass to get the specific heat capacity of the material.
Worked examples
Case 2
- Heat energy added
- 4184J
- Temperature rise
- 1K
4,184.00J/K
Open with these valuesCase 3
- Heat energy added
- 20000J
- Temperature rise
- 50K
400.00J/K
Open with these valuesHow it's calculated
C = Q ÷ ΔT
- StepEnter the heat energy supplied, in joules.
- StepEnter how far the temperature rose, in kelvin or degrees Celsius.
- ResultRead the heat capacity of the whole object in joules per kelvin.
Reference table
| Heat, rise | Same as this much water | Heat capacity |
|---|---|---|
| 1000, 8 | 0.030 kg | 125.00 |
| 837, 3 | 0.067 kg | 279.00 |
| 20000, 50 | 0.096 kg | 400.00 |
| 4184, 10 | 0.100 kg | 418.40 |
| 28912.5, 25 | 0.276 kg | 1156.50 |
| 4184, 1 | 1.000 kg | 4184.00 |
Questions
How do I calculate heat capacity?
Divide the heat energy added by the temperature change it caused: C = Q ÷ ΔT. Joules for the energy and kelvin for the change give the answer in J/K — 4184 J over a rise of 10 K is 418.4 J/K.
What is heat capacity?
It is the heat energy needed to raise the temperature of a whole object by one kelvin, measured in joules per kelvin. A high value means the object stores a lot of heat for a small temperature change.
What is the difference between heat capacity and specific heat?
Heat capacity in J/K belongs to a whole object and grows with the amount of material. Specific heat capacity in J/(kg·K) is per kilogram and depends only on the substance; divide the heat capacity by the mass to get it.
Kelvin or Celsius for the temperature change?
Either, because this field is a difference and a change of 1 K is exactly a change of 1 °C. Degrees Fahrenheit are not interchangeable and must be converted first.
Does heat capacity depend on the size of the object?
Yes, it scales with the amount of material: double the mass of the same substance and the heat capacity doubles. That is why a full kettle needs far more energy than a single cup.
Sources and last check
Information, not professional advice.