Energy and Specific Heat

By: Sage MarshallThe Coolest Dude Ever

Heat

Heat – energy due to temperature

Measured in

-Joules (J)

-Calories (cal)

Heat

-Heat flows between objects

-Temperature is a property of objects

1st Law of Thermodynamics

Energy can’t be created or destroyed

During any reaction, the total final energy is the same as the total initial energy

2nd Law of Thermodynamics

Energy flows from a higher temperature to a lower temperature

Specific Heat

Let’s think back to the example with wood and hot metal.

-If I input the same amount of energy, will both substances heat up to the same final temperature?

Specific Heat

Specific Heat

The amount of energy it takes to raise 1g of material 1oC in temperature

Variable: c

Units:

The Heat Equation

E = Heat energy

m = mass

c = specific heat

ΔT = temperature change

Example 1

How much energy is needed to raise 10g of steel from 25oC to 30oC? (The specific heat of steel is 0.470J/gC).

Example 2

How much energy is needed to raise 10g of wood from 25oC to 30oC? (The specific heat of wood is 2.500J/gC).

Example 3On a sunny day, each square centimeter of the

ocean absorbs 180 Joules of energy from the sun each hour. Assume all the heat is absorbed in the first 10m of water, which has a mass of 1000g. How much does the water temperature increase? (The specific heat of water is 4.184J/gC.

Example 4A 12.6g piece of zinc was heated to 99.5oC. It was

then added to a beaker with cooler water. When the water and metal came to thermal equilibrium, the temperature of the zinc had dropped to 25.8oC. The zinc transferred 586J of energy to the water. What is the specific heat of zinc?