Chemistry
Rearranged for specific heat
The calorimetry form: measure the energy, the mass and the temperature rise, and solve for the material property.
The Formula
c = Q / (m x dT)
The calorimetry form: measure the energy, the mass and the temperature rise, and solve for the material property.
| Symbol | Meaning | Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| c | Specific heat | J/kg/degC | Energy per kilogram per degree. |
| Q | Heat energy | J | Energy transferred during the experiment. |
| m | Mass | kg | Mass of the sample being tested. |
| dT | Temperature change | degC | Measured rise or fall. |
What Each Symbol Means
cJ/kg/degC
Specific heat
Energy per kilogram per degree.
QJ
Heat energy
Energy transferred during the experiment.
mkg
Mass
Mass of the sample being tested.
dTdegC
Temperature change
Measured rise or fall.
See It Worked With Real Numbers
A formula on its own does not tell you which number goes where. The how to calculate specific heat page applies this equation to a concrete case, shows every intermediate step, and names the mistakes that produce a wrong answer even when the algebra is right.
Where This Formula Appears
This equation is the working core of How To Calculate Specific Heat, filed under Science. Every number the guide produces comes from substituting into this one line.