How is specific heat calculated?

Specific heat is a physical property that quantifies how much heat energy is required to raise the temperature of a unit mass of a substance by one degree Celsius (or one Kelvin). It is calculated using the formula:

Specific heat (c) = Heat capacity (C) / Mass (m)

Heat capacity is the amount of heat energy required to change the temperature of a substance. It depends on the substance's mass and its specific heat. By dividing the heat capacity by the mass, you get the specific heat, which provides a per unit mass measure of how much energy is needed per degree of temperature increase.

This relationship is essential in thermodynamics and materials science, as it allows for the comparisons of thermal properties between different substances. Understanding specific heat is crucial for various scientific and engineering applications, including calorimetry and material selection for thermal management.