The temperature change of a body when it absorbs a certain amount of energy is determined by which property?

The temperature change of a body when it absorbs a certain amount of energy is determined by which property?

• A. Specific heat
• B. Heat of fusion
• C. Heat capacity
• D. Molar heat capacity

Answer: (A)

The key idea is that how much the temperature rises when energy is absorbed depends on how much energy is required to raise the temperature per unit mass. This is described by the specific heat capacity. Specific heat tells you how much energy is needed to raise the temperature of 1 kilogram of the substance by 1 kelvin. The relationship is ΔT = Q/(m c): with the same absorbed energy, a substance with a larger specific heat heats up less, while one with a smaller specific heat heats up more. For example, water’s high specific heat means it warms up slowly, while metals with low specific heat heat up quickly. Other terms relate to energy changes in different ways. Heat of fusion is the energy needed to melt a substance at its melting point, not a direct measure of temperature change for a given energy. Heat capacity is the total energy required to raise the temperature of the whole object by 1 kelvin (C = m c). Molar heat capacity is the same idea per mole of substance rather than per unit mass. They’re related, but the direct factor determining the temperature change for a given energy input in a specific mass is the specific heat.

The key idea is that how much the temperature rises when energy is absorbed depends on how much energy is required to raise the temperature per unit mass. This is described by the specific heat capacity. Specific heat tells you how much energy is needed to raise the temperature of 1 kilogram of the substance by 1 kelvin. The relationship is ΔT = Q/(m c): with the same absorbed energy, a substance with a larger specific heat heats up less, while one with a smaller specific heat heats up more. For example, water’s high specific heat means it warms up slowly, while metals with low specific heat heat up quickly.

Other terms relate to energy changes in different ways. Heat of fusion is the energy needed to melt a substance at its melting point, not a direct measure of temperature change for a given energy. Heat capacity is the total energy required to raise the temperature of the whole object by 1 kelvin (C = m c). Molar heat capacity is the same idea per mole of substance rather than per unit mass. They’re related, but the direct factor determining the temperature change for a given energy input in a specific mass is the specific heat.