What is specific heat?

Specific heat is defined as the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of 1 gram of a substance by 1 degree Celsius. This concept is crucial in understanding how different materials respond to heat. Each substance has its own specific heat capacity, which indicates how much energy is needed to change its temperature. For instance, water has a high specific heat, meaning it can absorb a lot of heat without a significant change in temperature, which is why it plays a critical role in moderating climate and maintaining stable environments.

The other definitions provided in the choices refer to different aspects of thermal energy. The total energy needed to change the phase of a substance relates to latent heat, which is the energy required for phase changes such as melting or freezing. Heat energy lost to the environment can involve various processes, but it does not specifically define specific heat. The energy required to vaporize a substance is another aspect of heat energy but pertains specifically to the process of boiling and is not the same as specific heat. Each of these concepts is important in thermodynamics but serves different roles in the study of heat transfer and substance behavior.