Use adaptive quiz-based learning to study this topic faster and more effectively.

# Summary of heat capacity and latent heat

A summary of the properties of the four different measures of thermal energy is given below.

Heat capacity

• Thermal energy required to raise the temperature of an object by $1 ^{\circ}\text{C}$
• Depends on material and on mass
• $\Torange{C} = \dfrac{\Tred{\text{thermal energy}}}{\Tblue{\text{change in temperature}} } = \dfrac{\Tred{Q}}{\Tblue{\Delta T}}$
• Measured in $\text{J} / ^{\circ} \text{C}$ or $\text{J K}^{-1}$

Specific heat capacity

• Thermal energy required to raise the temperature of $1\text{ kg}$ of a material by $1 ^{\circ}\text{C}$
• Refers to a material and does not depend on mass
• $\Torange{c}=\dfrac{\Tred{\text{thermal energy}}}{\Tblue{\text{change in temperature}} \times \Tviolet{\text{mass}}} = \dfrac{\Tred{Q}}{\Tblue{\Delta T}\Tviolet{m}}$
• Measured in $\text{J} / ^{\circ} \text{C}\text{kg}$ or $\text{J kg}^{-1}\text{K}^{-1}$

Latent heat

• Energy released or absorbed when a substance changes state at constant temperature
• Depends on material and on mass
• Different latent heats for different phase changes
• Symbol is $\Torange{L}$, and is measured in $\text{J}$

Specific latent heat

• Energy released or absorbed when $1 \text{ kg}$ of a substance changes state at constant temperature
• Refers to a material and does not depend on mass
• $\Torange{\ell}=\dfrac{\Tred{\text{thermal energy}}}{\Tviolet{\text{mass}}} = \dfrac{\Tred{Q}}{\Tviolet{m}}$
• Measured in $\text{J} /\text{kg}$