Physics > Specific Heat Capacities
Specific heat capacity, also known simply as specific heat, is the measure of the heat energy required to increase the temperature of a unit quantity of a substance by a certain temperature interval. The symbols for specific heat capacity are either C or c depending on how the quantity of a substance is measured.
Specific heat capacity is measured in units of joules per kilogram per degree (J.kg-1.K-1). The heat capacity of an object, taken as a whole, is simply given as J.K-1
The table below shows some standard specific heat capacities:
| Substance |
Specific Heat Capacity
(J.kg -1.K-1) |
| Water |
4200 |
| Ice |
2100 |
| Ethanol |
2400 |
| Copper |
390 |
| Aluminium |
900 |
| Glass |
840 |
| Mercury |
140 |
| Wood |
1700 |
| Lead |
130 |