Case 1
- Heat energy added
- 4184J
- Mass heated
- 1kg
- Temperature rise
- 1K
4,184.00J/(kg·K)
Open with these valuesSpecific Heat Capacity Calculator
4,184.00J/(kg·K)
Result: 4,184.00 J/(kg·K)Specific heat capacity is the energy one kilogram of a substance needs per kelvin: c = Q ÷ (m × ΔT). The rise is a difference, so kelvin and degrees Celsius give the same number. Water sits near 4184 J/(kg·K), among the highest of everyday materials; metals are five to ten times lower.
Worked examples
Case 2
- Heat energy added
- 4500J
- Mass heated
- 0.5kg
- Temperature rise
- 10K
900.00J/(kg·K)
Open with these valuesCase 3
- Heat energy added
- 225000J
- Mass heated
- 10kg
- Temperature rise
- 50K
450.00J/(kg·K)
Open with these valuesHow it's calculated
c = Q ÷ (m × ΔT)
- StepEnter the heat energy supplied, in joules.
- StepEnter the mass of the sample, in kilograms.
- StepEnter the temperature rise, in kelvin or degrees Celsius.
- ResultRead the specific heat capacity in joules per kilogram per kelvin.
Reference table
| Heat, mass, rise | Close to this material | J/(kg·K) |
|---|---|---|
| 100, 0.25, 8 | below any common solid | 50.00 |
| 28912.5, 3, 25 | copper, about 390 | 385.50 |
| 225000, 10, 50 | iron and steel, about 450 | 450.00 |
| 4500, 0.5, 10 | aluminium, about 910 | 900.00 |
| 4184, 1, 1 | liquid water near 20 °C | 4184.00 |
| 41840, 2, 5 | liquid water near 20 °C | 4184.00 |
Questions
How do I calculate specific heat capacity?
Divide the heat energy by the mass times the temperature change: c = Q ÷ (m × ΔT). Adding 4184 J to 1 kg of water that warms by 1 K gives 4184 J/(kg·K).
What is specific heat capacity?
It is the heat energy needed to raise one kilogram of a substance by one kelvin, in J/(kg·K). Unlike heat capacity it does not depend on how much material you have, only on what the material is.
Why is the specific heat of water so high?
Water is close to 4184 J/(kg·K), one of the highest values of any everyday substance, because its hydrogen bonds absorb energy before the temperature rises. That is why oceans moderate climate and why a pot of water takes so long to boil.
Is water 4184 or 4186 J/(kg·K)?
Both figures are in circulation and both are right at different temperatures: 4184 fits liquid water near 20 °C, 4186 fits it near 15 °C. This calculator does not assume either — you supply the energy, mass and rise, and it returns whatever they imply.
What is the difference from heat capacity?
Specific heat capacity is per kilogram and belongs to the substance; heat capacity in J/K belongs to a particular object. Multiply the specific heat by the mass to get the heat capacity of that object.
Sources and last check
Information, not professional advice.