Questions: 4. Define specific heat.

4. Define specific heat.

Solution

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Solution Steps

Step 1: Understanding Specific Heat

Specific heat is a property of a substance that indicates the amount of heat required to change the temperature of a unit mass of the substance by one degree Celsius (or one Kelvin).

Step 2: Mathematical Representation

The specific heat \( c \) can be mathematically expressed as:

\[ c = \frac{Q}{m \Delta T} \]

where:

  • \( Q \) is the heat added or removed (in joules),
  • \( m \) is the mass of the substance (in kilograms),
  • \( \Delta T \) is the change in temperature (in degrees Celsius or Kelvin).
Step 3: Units of Specific Heat

The units of specific heat are typically joules per kilogram per degree Celsius (J/kg°C) or joules per kilogram per Kelvin (J/kg·K).

Final Answer

The specific heat is the amount of heat required to change the temperature of a unit mass of a substance by one degree Celsius or Kelvin. It is given by the formula:

\[ \boxed{c = \frac{Q}{m \Delta T}} \]

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