Heat, temperature and specific heat
Heat is energy transferred because of a temperature difference.
Key knowledge
Heat names energy transfer caused by a temperature difference, rather than a substance stored in an object. Temperature and internal energy are different state quantities. For a fixed mass heated along a specified process without a phase transition, Q=m∫c(T)dT; if the process-specific c is nearly constant, Q≈mcΔT. Pressure and volume constraints can give different specific heats.
Values and equations
Q=m∫_(T_i)^(T_f)c(T)dT≈mcΔT
- Q
- Heat supplied along the specified heat-capacity process J
- m
- Fixed mass kg
- c
- Specific heat capacity for the stated process J kg⁻¹ K⁻¹
- T,T_i,T_f,ΔT
- Integration, initial/final temperatures and temperature change K
Conditions and scope
- Fixed composition/mass and a stated quasistatic heat-capacity process; include relevant work or use the appropriate constant-pressure/constant-volume capacity.
- Phase transitions, reactions, significant heat losses and temperature-dependent c require their own model. A temperature rise can also result from work without heat input.
Sources · 1
References
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Evidence and review
Read §1.4 heat-transfer definition, specific-heat relation1.5 and explicit constant-volume/pressure gas distinction. Integral form is the disclosed varying-c generalization; do not infer stored heat or equate every temperature rise with incoming heat.
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Entry details
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- foundation-physics-heat-specific-capacity
- Revision
- foundations-refresh.1
- Structured reference record
- Foundational reference additions