What is specific heat?
Q: What is specific heat?
A: Specific heat is a type of heat capacity, which is the amount of heat required for a single unit of mass of a substance to be raised by one degree of temperature.
Q: How do substances exhibit varying ranges of specific heat values?
A: Substances exhibit varying ranges of specific heat values depending on the extent to which they absorb heat.
Q: Is the term "heat capacity" a completely accurate term?
A: The term "heat capacity" can be misleading since heat q is actually the term given to the addition or removal of energy across a barrier to a substance or system, as a result of increasing or decreasing the temperature respectively.
Q: What are temperature changes really changes in?
A: Temperature changes are actually changes in energy.
Q: Are specific heat and other forms of heat capacity accurate measures of the capacity of a substance to absorb energy?
A: Yes, specific heat and other forms of heat capacity are more accurately measures of the capacity of a substance to absorb energy as the temperature of the substance increases.
Q: How does specific heat differ from heat capacity?
A: Specific heat is a type of heat capacity which is more specific, as it measures the amount of heat required for a single unit of mass of a substance to be raised by one degree of temperature, whereas heat capacity is a broader term that refers to the overall capacity of a substance to absorb energy.
Q: What factors influence the specific heat of a substance?
A: The specific heat of a substance is influenced by factors such as the structure of the substance, its density, and its phase (whether it is a solid, liquid, or gas).
