GCSE Physics Revision — Specific Heat Capacity
Revise Specific Heat Capacity for GCSE Physics with a topic explanation, worked example and common mistakes. Check the board notes for specification differences.
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What is Specific Heat Capacity?
Specific heat capacity is the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of 1kg of a substance by 1°C. It is a measure of how much thermal energy a substance can store. Water has a high specific heat capacity, which is why it is used in central heating systems.
Board notes: Covered by all major boards (AQA, Edexcel, OCR) at both Foundation and Higher tiers.
Step-by-step explanationWorked examples
Worked example
How much energy is needed to heat 2kg of water from 20°C to 100°C? The specific heat capacity of water is 4200 J/kg°C. Solution: Energy = mass x specific heat capacity x change in temperature. Energy = 2kg x 4200 J/kg°C x (100°C - 20°C) = 672,000J or 672kJ.
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Common mistakes
- 1Confusing specific heat capacity with heat capacity. Specific heat capacity is per kilogram of the substance.
- 2Using the wrong units. Specific heat capacity is measured in J/kg°C (Joules per kilogram per degree Celsius).
- 3Forgetting to include the change in temperature in the calculation. The formula requires the change in temperature, not just the final temperature.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the formula for specific heat capacity?
The formula is: Change in Thermal Energy (J) = Mass (kg) x Specific Heat Capacity (J/kg°C) x Change in Temperature (°C).
Why does a sandy beach get hotter than the sea on a sunny day?
Sand has a lower specific heat capacity than water. This means it takes less energy to raise the temperature of sand, so it heats up and cools down much more quickly than the sea.