Year 10 - Science
Calculating specific heat capacity (∆E = m c ∆θ)
Energy of moving particles
Study Hub
Study Guides
This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
This unit covers energy changes in systems due to heating, forces, and electrical work. It explains reducing energy transfer via insulation, specific heat capacity, and latent heat. Emphasis is on calculations, planning experiments, data interpretation, and evaluating methods.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to make calculations using the equation ΔE = m c Δθ.
Key Notes
- Energy transferred to increase the temperature of a substance by heating by a fixed amount is proportional to mass.
- Energy transferred to a substance by heating a fixed amount is proportional to the increase in temperature.
- Energy transferred to increase the temperature of a substance by heating is proportional to its specific heat capacity.
- Specific heat capacity equals the energy transferred to/by 1 kg of a material when its temperature changes by 1ºC.
- Specific heat capacity, c, is measured in joules per kilogram per degree Celsius (J/kg ºC).
Vocabulary To Learn
- specific heat capacity: The change in internal energy when the temperature of 1 kg of the material changes by 1°C.
- joules / kilogram degrees C: The unit for the specific heat capacity of a material (J/kg ºC).
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Often, after teaching, pupils often do not understand what specific heat capacity means.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the scientific idea in this lesson using two key points.
Energy transferred to increase the temperature of a substance by heating by a fixed amount is proportional to mass. Energy transferred to a substance by heating a fixed amount is proportional to the increase in temperature.
2. Define this scientific word and use it in context. 'specific heat capacity'
The change in internal energy when the temperature of 1 kg of the material changes by 1°C. Include the word in a full scientific explanation, not as a single label.
3. Correct this common scientific misunderstanding.
Mistake: Often, after teaching, pupils often do not understand what specific heat capacity means. Correction: Discuss the size of a substance's specific heat capacity in terms of how hard it is to heat up a certain mass of the substance and of how much energy needs to be transferred to heat it up.
More Lessons In This Unit
- A heating curve for water Study Guide
- Calculating specific heat capacity (∆Q = m c ∆θ) Study Guide
- Effective insulation Study Guide
- Heating different substances Study Guide
- Measuring specific heat capacity Study Guide
- Specific latent heat (E = m l) Study Guide
- Specific latent heat (E = m L) Study Guide
- Specific latent heat (Q = m L) Study Guide
- Thermal conduction and insulation Study Guide
Browse all guides in the Year 10 Science guide library.