Specific Heat Formula (Q = mcΔT)
Q = m·c·ΔT
What it means
Calculate the heat energy needed to change a substance's temperature, given its mass, specific heat capacity, and temperature change.
Variables
| Symbol | Quantity | SI unit |
|---|---|---|
Q | heat energy | J |
m | mass | kg |
c | specific heat capacity | J/(kg·K) |
ΔT | temperature change | K |
Worked example
Given m = 2 kg, c = 4186 J/(kg·K), ΔT = 10 K, solve for Q:
Q = 83720 J