Question

Based on the definition of specific heat and the information provide below, if the same amount of heat is added to 1 kg of all these substances, which substance will raise in temperature to the highest value? Specific Heat Values (J/kg°C) of Different Materials: Aluminum: 897 Helium: 5193 Steel: 490 Water: 4182

Is it:
Aluminum
Helium
Steel
Water

Answer 1

It would be the one with the highest Specific Heat constant

The equation for specific heat is:

Q=mCT

If we rearrange for T, we get:

T=Q/mC

Since m is just 1 Kg, we can ignore it and say that:

T=Q/C

Let’s just give an arbitrary number to C and solve for each individual species

Q=1 J

Helium - 1J/5193 = .00019257

Steel - 1J/490 = .00204082

Aluminum - 1J/897 =.00111483

Water - 1J/4182 = .00023912

This proves that Steel, with the lowest Specific Heat will increase the most.

Answer 2

The correct answer is steel.

Step-by-step explanation:

The specific heat capacity refers to the concentration of energy needed to elevate the temperature of one kilogram of a substance by one degree. Thus, the greater the number, the more will be the energy required. Therefore, steel will rise in temperature to the highest value as less energy will be needed to elevate its temperature because of the lowest specific heat values of all the mentioned options.